Highest Integrated Solid Waste Management Project

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The Ladakh Municipal Committee has recently launched one of its most comprehensive Integrated Solid Waste Management Projects (ISWMP). As Ladakh has become a popular tourist destination, waste generation has increased significantly.

Key Points

- The Ladakh Municipal Committee has launched a major Integrated Solid Waste Management Project (ISWMP) to address the growing waste problem of the region.

- Ladakh's growing popularity as a tourist destination has led to a significant increase in waste generation.

- India currently generates 62 million tonnes of waste annually, with an average annual growth rate of 4%.

- Urban waste generation in India is projected to reach 0.7 kg per capita per day by 2025, while municipal solid waste is expected to increase to 165 million tonnes by 2030 due to economic growth and changing consumption patterns.

What is the Highest Integrated Solid Waste Management Project (ISWMP)?

Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) scheme is a comprehensive approach, comprising a management system with policies (regulatory, financial, etc.), technologies (infrastructure and operational aspects) and voluntary measures (awareness raising, self-regulation).

This management system covers all aspects of waste management from generation to collection, transfer, transportation, sorting, treatment and disposal.

Waste Management Initiatives

- Swachh Bharat Mission

Central assistance is provided under Swachh Bharat Mission for solid waste management including plastic waste management in both urban and rural areas.

This mission emphasizes on source segregation, reducing single-use plastics, waste management from construction and demolition activities and bioremediation of legacy waste dump sites.

- Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016

The Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016 have replaced the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules of 2000.

They emphasize waste segregation at source, mandate manufacturers to take responsibility for disposal of sanitary and packaging waste, and impose user charges for collection, disposal, and processing of waste from bulk producers.

- Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016

The Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016 require plastic waste producers to take steps to reduce plastic waste generation, prevent plastic littering, and ensure that waste is collected separately at source, among other measures.

- Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022

The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022 outline the responsibilities of various stakeholders, including manufacturers, importers, retailers, and consumers.

Challenges for Solid Waste Management

- Rapid Urbanization

Unplanned urbanization often results in inadequate infrastructure and services for waste collection and disposal.

- Limited recycling and reuse

Limited awareness, inadequate infrastructure and lack of incentives hinder recycling efforts. Valuable resources are wasted when recyclable materials are dumped in landfills.

- Challenges of waste to energy

Although waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies provide a means of obtaining energy from waste, concerns remain about air emissions and the environmental impact of incineration.

Next steps

- Integrated waste management systems

Includes integrating source reduction, recycling, composting and responsible disposal to reduce environmental impact.

- Extended producer responsibility (EPR)

Implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies to ensure that manufacturers are accountable for end-of-life management of their products.

Also promote eco-friendly product design and packaging to reduce waste generation.

- Waste to Energy with Environmental Safety

To set up waste to energy production facilities equipped with advanced emission control technologies to reduce air pollution.