107
achieved the goal of integrated waste management in various sectors. The key issue
of their success has been highlighted which can be followed by other ULBs. Panaji
and Alappuzha municipalities made possible of 100% source segregation by distributing separate community bins and involving NGOs to make residents aware of the
advantages of source segregation of waste. By organizing informal sector and confirming regular-timely collection of waste, Indore municipality has become a model
for 100% door-to-door collection system. To stop littering on the roads and open
spaces, initiatives taken by Tenali municipality are appreciable. By imposing fines
for littering and penalty for using plastic, it has made its streets and drains litter free.
This established the fact that application of rules and regulations at ground level can
change the beauty of an urban area. Involvement of private organizations in composting has made it commercially successful in Mangalore municipality. Very often
the thermal treatment of waste causes environmental pollution and to check this
Solapur municipality uses an indigenous technology to generate energy from waste
without any environmental degradation. Salur municipality becomes evidence that
dumping ground can be a place of recreation if it is managed and beautified properly. Finally, Pune municipality has become a model for how PPP model can be
applied and be succeeding from source to final disposal of waste.
5.5 Economic and Business Potential of Municipal Solid
Waste Generated in India
While SWM is challenging, it also has the capacity to improve societies’ quality of
life and contribute to the economy as it has great resource value if managed properly. Therefore, waste management sector has great potential to contribute towards
green economy by offering net carbon savings and a resource efficient contribution
in the current situation which is largely reliant on the exploitation of non-renewable
natural resources. The main goal of green economy is to achieve sustainable development by reducing environmental risks and degradation. The United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development held in June 2012 (Rio+20) ranked the
green economy as one of the major international concerns and aims to motivate and
assist governments and businesses in making a transition to a green economy in the
waste sector [140]. India has great potentials of green economy in the waste sector
because of its large quantum of waste generated in mainly urban areas. For example,
at present, the plastic recycling industry in India employs over 1.6 million people
and has more than 7500 recycling units (Mahanty 2018). It is now accepted that
waste can be turned into a raw material or into resource if managed properly by
recycling and reusing. Recycling of waste materials not only save the over exploitation of natural resources but also minimize the emission of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere. Water crisis is becoming acute day by day due to over-exploitation of
groundwater; therefore, reuse of wastewater after recycling is a welcomed step and
in this regard, VA Tech Wabag company made it possible in Chennai. In every year
5 Environmental Pollution and Municipal Solid Waste Management in India
achieved the goal of integrated waste management in various sectors. The key issue
of their success has been highlighted which can be followed by other ULBs. Panaji
and Alappuzha municipalities made possible of 100% source segregation by distributing separate community bins and involving NGOs to make residents aware of the
advantages of source segregation of waste. By organizing informal sector and confirming regular-timely collection of waste, Indore municipality has become a model
for 100% door-to-door collection system. To stop littering on the roads and open
spaces, initiatives taken by Tenali municipality are appreciable. By imposing fines
for littering and penalty for using plastic, it has made its streets and drains litter free.
This established the fact that application of rules and regulations at ground level can
change the beauty of an urban area. Involvement of private organizations in composting has made it commercially successful in Mangalore municipality. Very often
the thermal treatment of waste causes environmental pollution and to check this
Solapur municipality uses an indigenous technology to generate energy from waste
without any environmental degradation. Salur municipality becomes evidence that
dumping ground can be a place of recreation if it is managed and beautified properly. Finally, Pune municipality has become a model for how PPP model can be
applied and be succeeding from source to final disposal of waste.
5.5 Economic and Business Potential of Municipal Solid
Waste Generated in India
While SWM is challenging, it also has the capacity to improve societies’ quality of
life and contribute to the economy as it has great resource value if managed properly. Therefore, waste management sector has great potential to contribute towards
green economy by offering net carbon savings and a resource efficient contribution
in the current situation which is largely reliant on the exploitation of non-renewable
natural resources. The main goal of green economy is to achieve sustainable development by reducing environmental risks and degradation. The United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development held in June 2012 (Rio+20) ranked the
green economy as one of the major international concerns and aims to motivate and
assist governments and businesses in making a transition to a green economy in the
waste sector [140]. India has great potentials of green economy in the waste sector
because of its large quantum of waste generated in mainly urban areas. For example,
at present, the plastic recycling industry in India employs over 1.6 million people
and has more than 7500 recycling units (Mahanty 2018). It is now accepted that
waste can be turned into a raw material or into resource if managed properly by
recycling and reusing. Recycling of waste materials not only save the over exploitation of natural resources but also minimize the emission of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere. Water crisis is becoming acute day by day due to over-exploitation of
groundwater; therefore, reuse of wastewater after recycling is a welcomed step and
in this regard, VA Tech Wabag company made it possible in Chennai. In every year
5 Environmental Pollution and Municipal Solid Waste Management in India