4 Types of waste management means the 4R model of waste management which plays a wide role from AI technology for smart waste management, segregation at source, circular economy and green lifestyle to government schemes and recycling initiatives. Know the latest strategies for waste disposal and environmental protection in India.
Abstract:
Waste management and recycling are an important aspect of sustainable development, which directly gives impetus to environmental protection and various resources. In the face of growing urbanization, adopting sustainable waste management practices is critical to ensuring a cleaner and healthier future.
This article considers various types of waste biodegradable and non-biodegradable and their environmental impacts. This article highlights the importance of effective waste management to prevent land, water and air pollution, which poses a threat to human health and the balance of nature. This article looks at recycling as an important solution to reduce waste and conserve natural resources, save energy, reduce landfill use and reduce pollution.
Today India is facing the problem of waste management. More than 62 million tons of waste is produced in India every year, a large part of which remains untreated. But if we work in this direction, then paper can be converted into useful products including metal, plastic and paper by processes like mechanical, chemical and thermal recycling. Today, the problem of electronic waste (e-waste) is also increasing. This is a matter of concern because the hazardous components present in it seriously affect human health and the environment at many levels. Today we need to make efforts to recycle this e-waste as well. The present article highlights various solutions to waste management and discusses technologies such as “Waste to Wealth Mission” and the application of artificial intelligence in recycling. This article emphasizes the role of reuse technologies and individual efforts.
Introduction of waste:
Waste is a part of our daily life that we often ignore. It is generated from homes, factories and various businesses, which includes plastic, paper, metal and electronic equipment. Waste can cause serious damage to the environment if not managed properly. It causes land, water and air pollution, which negatively affects human health and ecological balance.
What is waste management or recycling?
Waste management and recycling is an effective method of reducing the amount of waste by reusing used items instead of throwing them away. India is one of the 10 countries in the world that generates the most municipal solid waste (MSW). The report of the Tertiary Resources Institute (TERI) provides information that “more than 62 million tons of waste is generated every year, of which only 43 million tons are collected, 12 million tons are treated and 31 million tons are dumped without any processing.” (International Trade Administration 2023) Waste management and waste recycling is an important component of sustainable development. This process helps reduce the use of natural resources by converting waste into new useful materials. Recycling saves energy, fills up less landfills and reduces pollution. Waste management or recycling is necessary because it helps to save the limited resources of the earth and keep the environment clean.
It not only controls pollution but also protects health. Apart from this, it is also economically beneficial because it creates new employment opportunities. Natural resources can be preserved for a long time through kachra prabandhan and recycling. It also strengthens the economy because it costs less to make new products from recycled materials. Therefore, waste management and recycling are very important for both our lives and the environment.
Different Types of Waste:
Generally two types of hazards are considered. One is organic waste and the other is inorganic waste. Both these types of waste have different effects on the environment and human health.
- Organic waste: It is the waste that can be decomposed by natural processes like paper and food waste, plant residues that rot quickly and decompose through natural processes.
- Inorganic waste: It does not decompose naturally, so this waste becomes a matter of more concern. Like plastic, metal, glass pieces, electronic waste which remain in the environment for a long time, due to this inorganic waste pollutes the environment more. This waste does not rot or decompose naturally, so it is seriously dangerous for the environment.
Measures for waste management:
There are many measures of waste management and recycling. To dispose of waste systematically or to consider it as a resource and use it as another resource or to fulfill our needs as far as possible from the waste, in this process the waste is recycled, there are many models of recycling and waste management available.
Models of Waste Management:
There are many models of waste management through which we manage the waste by getting information about the processes of waste management and recycling and successful disposal.
4Rs model: 4 types of waste management
Dr. Ravish Agrawal writes in detail in his article about the 4Rs model that “There are four important processes of waste recycling which are called 4Rs. Such as refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle” (Dr. Ravish Agrawal 2015)
- Refuse: We should avoid buying things that are not necessary for us. We should buy only those things that are really necessary for us.
- Reduce: The second way is that we should reduce waste as much as possible. For this, we can make our lifestyle environment friendly so that our lifestyle can also become of normal quality and environment friendly. Reduce the amount of waste. By doing this, on one hand we will produce less waste and on the other hand we will also be able to adopt an environment friendly lifestyle.
- Reuse: As far as possible, we should use our things and objects again and again, the result of which will be that the production of waste will be reduced. We should reuse the things that are reusable.
- Recycle: We use things in everyday life, if that thing is reusable then it should be kept separately and should be given to where it can be recycled such as it should be given to garbage pickers or Kabadi players, this will help in recycling of the waste. This is a recycling method of waste management.
We can adopt some more activities for waste management. Such as
- Segregation of waste at source: Waste should be separated at the source itself. Keep organic (biodegradable) and inorganic (non-biodegradable) solid waste in separate bins. Recycle all components with less labor and cost.
- Different treatment for different types of solid waste: Different treatment methods should be adopted for different types of solid waste and use appropriate technology for each type of waste. For example, the technology that is suitable for general market waste may not be suitable for slaughterhouse waste.
- Treatment of waste at the nearest place: Solid waste should be treated in a decentralized manner as far as possible. If possible, the waste generated should be treated at the same place, i.e. it should be disposed of in every house. Or that waste should be transported to a nearby place where it is treated or recycled.
Various techniques of waste management and recycling:
Today we have various techniques to recycle waste, which are called mechanical recycling, chemical recycling and thermal recycling techniques. Through these techniques, waste is converted into various useful products through specific processes. In this way, waste management also takes place through these techniques and we are also able to make environment friendly development. Businesses are now encouraged to use recyclable packaging materials to align with sustainable production goals.
Mechanical Process:
In this waste management process, various types of waste such as plastic and metals are broken down in physical form to obtain raw material, from which new products can be made. Not only mechanical recycling but other methods should also be adopted for a developing environment. In this, waste such as plastic etc. is broken down in its original form and converted into liquid or gas forms and used to make useful things.
Chemical Recycling:
This is another specific process of waste management. Under this, the waste is divided into its basic chemical components through chemical processes such as gasification, hydrothermal treatment, depolymerization. Through this process, it is possible to reuse valuable resources such as metals, plastic polymers and chemicals. For example, in e-waste recycling, precious metals such as gold and silver can be extracted from the circuit boards of discarded computers using hydrometallurgical processes.
Thermal Recycling:
In this waste management process, various types of waste are converted into useful energy starting material through thermal process and when it is converted, we can also generate electricity from it. For example, electricity is produced by burning large municipal solid waste.
Apart from these traditional technologies, many technologies have been developed recently that give us momentum towards waste management. “Many exciting emerging technologies have emerged in 2024 such as ‘Pelo’ is a new technology developed to help businesses reduce their environmental impact and manage their waste collection more efficiently. ‘Pelo’ helps companies achieve these goals in several different ways. First of all, the ‘Pelo’ system monitors the fill level of your trash bins and provides real-time information about the contents and location of the dumpster. It tells if the container is contaminated and sends a pickup alert at the time of collection.” (Jo Romano 2024)
Recycling Robots: Artificial Intelligence has been in the news a lot lately. This is one area where Artificial Intelligence can bring revolutionary changes in the field of waste management and recycling. Emerging technologies like AI waste management are revolutionizing sorting and collection processes in smart cities. AI robots can be programmed to quickly and accurately separate waste between different materials. Many recycling centers are already using this technology. Separating wet and dry waste can be done quickly by robots. Wet waste such as food waste can be composted while dry waste such as glass and metal must be disposed of separately.
The growing problem of electronic waste in the world:
Today’s world is further increasing the technological revolution. As technology-based development is increasing, electronic waste or e-waste is also standing in front of us as a big crisis in this digital age. As fast as technology is growing, electronic products like TV, mobile phone, laptop, etc. are increasing at the same pace as e-waste. This waste contains a mixture of metals and toxic chemicals which causes serious damage to the environment. Businessmen working in the electronic sector are earning profits but are paying less attention to e-waste management.
Hence this problem is becoming even more serious. Reflecting on the growing problem of e-waste, King Liu writes in his article that “E-waste includes old and unusable electronic devices, which are not destroyed or recycled properly, due to which a crisis is arising in the environment. This growing problem is evident from its annual growth of 3-5%. (Kang Liu and team 2023) This was the crisis of e-waste at the global level, but India is also facing this crisis. India is also exploring innovative e-waste recycling solutions to tackle the rapid rise of electronic waste in urban centers.
India is working towards waste management but it is not enough. The challenge of e-waste management still remains. In this context, Sonal Gupta, writing her article in the Indian Express, draws attention to the serious challenges and writes that “Out of the total 16,01,155 tonnes of e-waste generated in the country in the year 2021-22, only 32.9% (5,27,131 tonnes) was recycled while 10,74,024 tonnes (67%) remained unprocessed. This figure is better than previous years: 26.33% in 2020-21, 22.07% in 2019-20, 21.35% in 2018-19, and only 9.79% of e-waste was recycled in 2017-18” (Sonal Gupta 2023). So needless to say, we need to think and take special steps towards waste management.
Many processes are adopted during waste management and recycling. Electronic waste is converted into valuable metals such as copper, tin, etc. as building materials through various processes like full-component recycling, pyrolysis, hydrometallurgy and electrochemical.
90% of e-waste management in India is still handled by the unorganized sector, which has been called the “backbone of e-waste recycling”. However, despite the existence of formal facilities, most of the e-waste is being recycled in the unorganized sector. The new e-waste management rules by the government will come into effect from April 1, 2025. These include setting limits on hazardous substances, ensuring safety, health and skill development of workers engaged in recycling, and setting up an online portal for data collection.
Another report of 2023 says that currently many low-income areas are gaining profit by managing e-waste illegally. As a result, toxic and harmful substances generated due to these activities negatively affect the geochemical cycle of the earth. As a result, there are many challenges in waste management or recycling of e-waste materials today. The challenge is also that traditional technologies are not able to actively separate valuable primary materials, due to which more resources are lost.
How can waste management be done? Management measures:
We need to work at many levels for waste management. Because this problem is not going to be solved by the efforts of any one government, organization or person. We all need to make efforts to deal with this problem.
- The first level is our personal efforts, that is, we should put the garbage in a designated dustbin. In that too, wet and dry garbage should be collected separately. We should cooperate with the government in the work it is doing in this direction.
- Even within our home, we should use reusable waste and identify the waste and send it to the deputation or recycling center.
- To make waste management successful, the Government of India and government and non-government organizations need to adopt international cooperation and waste management processes.
- At the international level, under the ‘Basel Convention’, E-waste and unused products must be included in its limits so that its illegal trade and illegal activities can be stopped.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (ERR) should be applied to E-waste producers to make them accountable for the waste they produce.
- Plastic water bottles, which are harmful to the environment, can be cut in half and reused as plant holders.
- Aluminium foil which is not absorbent can be reused as reflectors for plants.
- Food waste such as fruit and vegetable peels can be composted and used in gardening. Instead of throwing away plastic bottles, they can be converted into eco-bricks which can be used as modular furniture or gardening decor.
- Old newspapers can be reused as packing material or cleaning supplies. Finally, replacing plastic items such as toothbrushes and straws with organic alternatives is a simple step to reduce waste and protect the environment.
- Use of Mobile Apps Mobile apps are being developed for recycling. This new category of mobile apps helps with everything from donating edible clothes to charities to finding recycling centers. Some apps even provide information on what materials can be recycled in your local area.
- One key aspect of efficient waste management is solid waste segregation at source, which enhances recycling and reduces landfill use.
- People can also contribute by following eco-friendly lifestyle tips like reducing plastic use and composting organic waste.
Advantages of waste management or recycling:
Waste management or its recycling provides many environmental and economic benefits. Effective waste management is also a strategy for environmental risk mitigation, protecting soil, water, and air from contamination. If we make kachra prabandhan successful, it helps in conserving natural resources. Such as reducing the need for felling trees and mining. Which can protect forests and conserve biodiversity. In this context, Dr. Osama Asanosi Lumma writes that “Similarly, recycling wood and paper can save forests and trees. One ton of recycled office paper can save 7,650 gallons of water, 18 trees, and 472 gallons of oil. Natural rainforests cannot be restored, so it is better to avoid destroying them” (Dr. Osama Asanosi Lumma 2021)
A successful waste management and recycling also helps in reducing pollution and fighting climate change as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions during production processes. Waste management also reduces pressure on landfills as the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that if 37% of waste is recycled, landfill space can be reduced by 65%.
Economically, waste management and recycling generate new employment opportunities and strengthen the economy. “In 2018, recycling activities alone generated 6,93,000 jobs, $38.6 billion in wages, and $5.65 billion in tax revenue in the US.” (Jo Romano 2024) Hence, today we need to take revolutionary steps in this direction.
Waste to Wealth Mission:
Various government waste management schemes, such as the ‘Waste to Wealth’ initiative, aim to create scalable models of waste utilization. This mission is an initiative of waste management and recycling which has proved to be successful. Not only India but all the countries of the world are making efforts in this direction. In the context of this initiative of the Scientific Advisory Office of the Government of India, it has been said that “‘Waste to Wealth Mission’, which is run by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor of the Government of India. This mission focuses on technologies that convert waste into useful resources. The goal of this mission is to create a garbage-free and zero-landfill nation” (Government of India n.d.)
Under this mission, a drain master DM -80 machine was launched which is capable of removing the dirt from urban drains. Similarly, under this mission, a decentralized waste management technology park has been established in Jafrabad. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mission launched a biomedical waste treatment innovation challenge in which a 150 kg/hr gasifier by GD Environmental Pvt. Ltd. was selected.
This technology burns municipal and biomedical waste or organic medical waste and converts it into energy. This solves the problems of safe waste management and energy recovery. It addresses the growing problem of urban waste as well as promotes recycling and energy efficiency. This can lead to a clean and green India.
Conclusion:
The journey of waste management and recycling starts somewhere from our home.
Within the four walls of the house, where we take small steps. Separating wet and dry waste, reusing old items, this process expands from there. Starting from home, these steps reach society and the world. The shift towards a circular economy in India emphasizes reuse, recycling, and recovery to minimize waste generation.
Needless to say, today the problem of waste is not only facing an individual but the country and the entire world. To deal with this problem, we need to take steps with revolutionary changes at many levels. Efforts ranging from personal lifestyle to AI robotics can help us manage waste successfully.
References:
Dr. Osama Asanosi Lumma. (December- 2021). The impact of recycling in preserving the environment. International Journal of Applied Research. p-301
Dr. Ravish Agrawal. Mona Chaudhary, Jayveer Singh, (June 2015). Waste Management Initiatives In India For Human Well Being. European Scientific Journal. Special edition, page- 107-113
Government of India. Waste to Wealth website. office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the government of India https://www.psa.gov.in/waste-to-wealth
Jo Romano. (January 2024). 6 smart waste management technologies emerging in 2024. USA, RTS. https://www.rts.com/
Kang Liu, Quanyin Tan, Jiedong Yu, Mengmeng Wang. (March 2023) A global perspective on e-waste recycling. Tsinghua University Press. Volume 2, Issue – 1, Annexure- 1, https://www.sciencedirect.com
Management, International Trade Administration. (27.4.2023). India Solid Waste https://www.trade.gov/
Sonal Gupta. (1.3.2023). Recycling has gone up in the last 5 years, but 67% of e-waste remains unprocessed. Indian Express, New Delhi,