GROWING PROBLEMS :

Solid wastes generated by domestic, commercial and industrial activities are often indiscriminately disposed. Unscientific management of such wastes leads to serious environmental problems. The problems are already acute in cities and towns, as the disposal facilities are not keeping pace with the quantum of waste being generated. It is very common to find large heaps of garbage in disorganized manner at every nook and corner of the cities.

In sanitary method being adopted for disposal of solid wastes is a serious health concern. Particularly, during rainy season, run-off and high humid conditions increase the health hazards. The landfill sites, which are not well maintained, are prone to groundwater contamination due to leachate percolation. Open dumping of garbage serves as breeding ground for disease vectors such as flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats and other pests.

High risks of spreading diseases like typhoid, cholera, dysentery, yellow fever, encephalitis, plague and dengue fever may not be ruled out. There are three major steps involved in the management of garbage viz. collection, transportation and disposal (CTD).

The collection methods currently adopted by the civic authorities are primitive and lacking in specific standards or guidelines, which are required to be laid for designing and sitting of collection centers.

Transportation of garbage is carried out using old outdated trucks, tippers and refuse collectors. Inadequacy of transportation fleet and frequent breakdown of vehicles are the major hardship in proper collection of garbage.

Disposal of municipal solid wastes is generally done through landfilling. Most of the cities have acquired land for landfilling years ago, and now these sites are over-used. Acquisition of the new sites is a tough task for the authorities.