Page 88 - GRIHA Manual Volume IV - Introduction to National Rating System
P. 88
Building planning and construction 79
CRIteRIon 23
effICIent wAste
seGReGAtIon
Introduction
Today, there are two broad categories of waste generators in India—bulk generators (such as
construction waste from real estate sector or infrastructure sector) and small generators (such as
households and small businesses). However, when households are combined into a large housing
colony or township they also fall under the category of bulk generators.
Fortunately, the level of control that households have on their waste is very high, so appropriate
systems can be easily put in place, and with commitment from the householders, can be made into
a successful economic model. The composition of house-hold waste in India today is as follows.
# Organic waste: 42%
# Plastic: 4%
# Metal: 2%
# Glass: 2%
# Paper: 6%
# Textiles and leather: 4%
# Others (ash, sand, grit): 40%
Out of the total municipal waste collected, on an average 94% is dumped on land and 5% is
composted. Given the composition above, we can see that nearly 60% of the waste can be recycled
or reused (organics, plastics, metals, paper, textiles, and glass), but there are few decentralized
systems that exist today, which can enable this. Most segregation happens at the hands of the
informal sector which includes the following.
# Rag picker / itinerant buyer
# Long chain of intermediaries: waste dealers, wholesalers, and so on
# Small recycling units or industries
Current practices involve mixing of waste types and dumping in open landfills.
According to Visvanathan C, Trankler J, Joseph K (et al) (2004) there are two major issues in the
management of MSW common to Asia at large.
# Cultural issues: India has seen the practice of door-to-door waste collection by itinerant collectors
for a long time now. Although it is common practice across all strata of society, it is more prevalent
in the lower and middle economic segments to subscribe to them, who pay a nominal sum
for exchange of recyclable/reusable goods, such as glass bottles, paper, cloth, and so on. This
system helps reduce the amount of waste generated. India now sees many non-governmental
organizations (NGO) participating in the management of rag pickers to ensure health, sanitation,
and education facilities for this stratum of the society.
CRIteRIon 23
effICIent wAste
seGReGAtIon
Introduction
Today, there are two broad categories of waste generators in India—bulk generators (such as
construction waste from real estate sector or infrastructure sector) and small generators (such as
households and small businesses). However, when households are combined into a large housing
colony or township they also fall under the category of bulk generators.
Fortunately, the level of control that households have on their waste is very high, so appropriate
systems can be easily put in place, and with commitment from the householders, can be made into
a successful economic model. The composition of house-hold waste in India today is as follows.
# Organic waste: 42%
# Plastic: 4%
# Metal: 2%
# Glass: 2%
# Paper: 6%
# Textiles and leather: 4%
# Others (ash, sand, grit): 40%
Out of the total municipal waste collected, on an average 94% is dumped on land and 5% is
composted. Given the composition above, we can see that nearly 60% of the waste can be recycled
or reused (organics, plastics, metals, paper, textiles, and glass), but there are few decentralized
systems that exist today, which can enable this. Most segregation happens at the hands of the
informal sector which includes the following.
# Rag picker / itinerant buyer
# Long chain of intermediaries: waste dealers, wholesalers, and so on
# Small recycling units or industries
Current practices involve mixing of waste types and dumping in open landfills.
According to Visvanathan C, Trankler J, Joseph K (et al) (2004) there are two major issues in the
management of MSW common to Asia at large.
# Cultural issues: India has seen the practice of door-to-door waste collection by itinerant collectors
for a long time now. Although it is common practice across all strata of society, it is more prevalent
in the lower and middle economic segments to subscribe to them, who pay a nominal sum
for exchange of recyclable/reusable goods, such as glass bottles, paper, cloth, and so on. This
system helps reduce the amount of waste generated. India now sees many non-governmental
organizations (NGO) participating in the management of rag pickers to ensure health, sanitation,
and education facilities for this stratum of the society.
