A guide to solid waste management

Picture this: You have just bought a palatial flat in a sophisticated gated community. The facilities are great, the house is spacious, the neighbors are friendly, and everything beams with positivity. But, despite everything appearing so glossy and pleasant, waste is simply dumped in a quiet corner of the complex. Seldom cleaned and subtly emanating a powerful stench, the entire complex’s waste rots and gathers a lot of flies, mosquitoes, and insects, making the whole complex vulnerable to serious diseases. Not to forget, how it filths the environment if it’s not cleared up efficiently. Sounds dreadful, doesn’t it?

What is Solid Waste Management?

Waste can be solid, liquid or gaseous, with the last two often associated with factories. Solid waste comprises of garbage (including food), furniture, tires, scrap metal, appliances, toys, and many others. A typical solid waste management definition refers to the process of collecting solid wastes and how you treat them.

Importance of Solid Waste Management

Solid Waste Management in India is in a deplorable state. Research shows that in India alone, 1.50 lakh metric tonne of solid waste is generated every day. Out of all the total waste collected, about 20 percent of the solid waste is processed while the rest of the 80 percent is dumped in landfill sites, thus creating a hazardous situation. In this day and age, every individual should strive towards a more sustainable future which will have future generations living in peace and harmony too. Understand and bear every aspect of cleanliness and environment-friendly points in mind while purchasing a home of your own. 

Here are crucial points for homebuyers to take into account regarding Solid Waste Management.

Waste segregation

Solid Waste Management involves a lot of planning, administration, engineering and understanding the legalities on waste disposal. Upon shifting into a new house or building, identify where all the waste is being disposed of. Following the principle of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’, waste segregation bins are a must in every residence. This can segregate solids from the liquids, the reusable from the non-reusable, the organic from the toxic and many other differences. This segregation helps waste collectors and creates a sense of discipline regarding waste management. These waste segregation bins need to be installed in every nook and cranny of the property and used conscientiously.

Well-maintained compost pits

Garbage can be further classified into organic waste, toxic waste, and recyclable waste. Making a compost pit and biogas plant is a crucial step in solid waste management. Organic waste includes leftover food, vegetable and fruit peels, eggshells, etc. If it’s left to rot in a landfill, it produces methane gas which is harmful to the environment. So, it is important to look for developments that have well-maintained compost pits. These pits help in nourishing the plants you grow, improve the soil quality and reduce harmful greenhouse gases. Most houses these days adopt this method, usually reserved for improving their garden’s quality.

Legal means to dispose of waste

A solid waste management system is a key characteristic of a sustainable building and isn’t too hard to adopt. If each house does its part, it goes a long way. However, it’s important to know that according to the law, you cannot simply burn or dump your waste away. For decades, the act of burning your waste or throwing it onto the streets or emptying it in water bodies became normalized. Now, it draws a hefty penalty so ensure none of these rules are flouted.

Sustainable measures

When waste is left unattended, it produces harmful gasses and can impact the environment and your health causing adverse effects. Taking necessary action towards the management of solid waste can be time-consuming and, sometimes, a little expensive. But the benefits are lifesaving. Properties with a solid waste management system will have cleaner air to breathe in, a fresher environment, little risk of falling ill and even better aesthetics. It’s about doing the right thing for the sake of the environment.

A clean and green community

As the saying goes – Cleanliness begins at home. While looking for properties with a solid waste management system, observe if the community is working as a single unit towards sustainability and green peace. It is a good idea to avoid hoarding a lot of items, thus reducing the amount of waste it might generate. Donate or give away items that are of no use to you, but can be used again. Furthermore, do not dispose of solid items after a single-use. For instance, since plastic bottles are perennially dumped everywhere, avoid including them into the trash. Instead, you can use it for storing water, oil and other liquids or use it as pots for plants as a unique kitchen garden idea.

In conclusion, homebuyers must understand the fact that a poor solid waste management system can impact real estate as well, in addition to putting people’s health and the environment in jeopardy.  Are you on the lookout to invest in sustainable and environment-friendly development? Head out to Assetz Property Group for the right and green way to live.