Clearing mountains of garbage

ThE Himalayas are getting covered in a rising tide of waste tossed by tourists and residents, and with each holiday season, it spreads higher and grows deeper. The problem mirrors the waste management problem faced by the rest of the country: what to do about the vast amounts of solid waste that are taking over our spaces, with all the associated problems — methane emissions, pests thriving and disease spreading, the leaching into rivers. Concerns were recently raised about the dire situation in the Himalayan states and the impact of India's waste mismanagement on the world's oceans via polluted rivers.

In India, a nation of over 1 billion people, maintaining low per-capita emissions is crucial. Waste contributed to 19% of the methane emissions in 2022. As per a study, by diverting organic waste from landfills and capturing methane emissions from landfills and effluent treatment units, India can reduce emissions by 78.75 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) by 2031.

The government has laid down rules and regulations aimed at addressing these problems. But a large part of the country has seen little improvement. Many urban local bodies struggle to provide effective services due to financial constraints; lack of infrastructure, technology, qualified professionals, accountability and a regulatory framework. A crucial element is the low environmental awareness and public attitudes towards waste, as per a study.

Waste segregation at source is a critical practice, maximising resource recovery and minimising environmental impact. If too much wet waste is mixed with the burnable type, it cannot be used as fuel in factories or power plants and is sent to landfills.

Recycling becomes difficult, resulting in humongous landfill-turned-garbage mountains that leak noxious gases like methane, poisons that leach into ground and water and breed pests and disease. Recyclables are lost — valuable materials that could replace newly mined resources. Think electronics, batteries, lead, metals, glass, plastics, even paper.

Several barriers impede the adoption of waste segregation practices. Most people don't know and don't care enough how important it is. They also do not know how to segregate. It is perceived as taking too much work and time and extra space. Cultural perceptions about visible trash act as deterrents to waste separation at home. Also, they delegate responsibility to the authorities and don't want to change.

The biggest barrier is the lack of infrastructure. The absence of waste segregation facilities like appropriate bins or a waste collection system, makes it difficult for the best-intentioned to segregate waste to any good purpose. For example, waste in Almora, Uttarakhand, is collected from community bins placed in neighbourhoods and villages. These end up becoming dumping grounds, with waste strewn around them. Many were incorrectly designed or malfunctioning.

Collection trucks in many cases dump segregated wet and dry waste in the same container, making a mockery of the campaign. Plus, the authorities do not give clear guidelines on waste disposal to residents or workers. The latter are overworked and employers fear that the attention needed for segregation will require higher wages or more workers.

There is insufficient storage space, baling machinery and segregation and disposal infrastructure in place, making it difficult for the collected refuse to be sorted and disposed of. Since it is unsegregated, the task becomes nearly impossible.

Using these insights is vital for policy, enabling governments to facilitate the adoption of waste segregation practices. To start with, supply households with user-friendly dustbins in distinctly marked waste categories and similar community bins. When these are standardised and visible everywhere, they make segregation an accepted part of life. Ensure regular collection schedules and train and support workers to keep waste separated in its categories. Additionally, government orders mandating waste segregation, backed by strict enforcement, help ensure compliance. Installation of machines for segregation have been reported to be helpful.

Use clear, simple language and visuals to show how to segregate waste. Link segregation to cleaner homes, fewer pests and better health. Promote "No segregation, no collection." Make it aspirational through celebrities and community leaders. Empower local networks and children as champions to sustain awareness and behavioural change.

These interventions should ideally be first tried in Tier 2 and 3 cities, like Almora, as pilot projects. Small steps will encourage wider change.

Vikrom Mathur is Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, working in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation at Ashoka University.