Page 89 - GRIHA Manual Volume IV - Introduction to National Rating System
P. 89
80 Griha Manual: Volume 4
# Climatic factors: India predominantly lies in the tropical or sub-tropical zone with high heat and
humidity, which causes waste to be of higher moisture content, thus, increasing the weight of
the refuse. Also, humidity with heat leads to the organic portion of the waste decomposing
quickly causing problems in handling and disposal, which directly affects the environmental
health of the waste workers and the inhabitants in the surroundings. The climatic conditions also
necessitate a daily collection cycle, making the collection system even more expensive.
As mentioned earlier, waste (particularly organic waste) tends to decompose very quickly, and
when mixed with chemicals and other potentially harmful waste materials pose serious threats to
the ecology as well as humans exposed to it. The decomposition also leads to the generation of
methane, which is a greenhouse gas (GHG) and is one of the causes of global warming.
Landfills in India are least scientifically managed. When dumped in landfills, the moisture
contained in waste, augmented by moisture from precipitation, starts to percolate into the sub-soil
and eventually into the groundwater aquifer. This leads to contamination of the groundwater, which
in many cities in India, serves as a source of drinking water for many inhabitants, particularly the
economically weaker sections that rely on hand-pumps for water supply.
Most landfills, due to pressure on land for real estate, are now surrounded by residential colonies
and other buildings that house the upper economic strata as well. The occupants of these buildings
face long-term and short-term health hazards due to pollution in the air as well as in the water.
Solutions
Based on the primary functions performed in the building, waste segregation should be worked
out as a ‘waste-to-wealth’ strategy. This is best done if segregated waste is considered as part of a
stream for resource recovery (See next criteria for resource recovery from waste). So, a contract may
be signed with an agency that collects waste for recycling or an itinerant collector or an NGO that
manages rag pickers to ensure that the paper waste is collected from the site and channelized into
the recycling stream.
Following is a list of solutions for storage and segregation of waste in different types of buildings.
# All commercial buildings should have arrangement for storage of segregated waste. Commercial
waste means by-products and materials consumed during business activities and building
management and maintenance.
• During the operational use of a commercial building, the major quantity of waste generated
comes from consumables associated with the business activities of the occupants (paper,
cardboard, food waste, and so on).
• Management maintenance activities typically generate a smaller proportion of operational
waste sources, but can include hazardous wastes such as chemicals, contaminated water or
non-recyclable equipment.
# Hotels and restaurants should have in-house arrangements for treating biodegradable waste.
Offices should have arrangements for recycling of items such as paper and cardboards, toner
cartridges, batteries, mobile phones, and e-waste. E-waste should only be given to registered
e-waste handling agencies.
# All market waste (from fish/slaughterhouses/vegetable/fruit/flower markets) should have
arrangements for composting of the organic waste.
# Waste generated during building operation: Tenants, building management, and owners
contribute to tenancy and building refurbishment-associated waste. Such waste results from
changes in function, quality, efficiency, and so on.
# Climatic factors: India predominantly lies in the tropical or sub-tropical zone with high heat and
humidity, which causes waste to be of higher moisture content, thus, increasing the weight of
the refuse. Also, humidity with heat leads to the organic portion of the waste decomposing
quickly causing problems in handling and disposal, which directly affects the environmental
health of the waste workers and the inhabitants in the surroundings. The climatic conditions also
necessitate a daily collection cycle, making the collection system even more expensive.
As mentioned earlier, waste (particularly organic waste) tends to decompose very quickly, and
when mixed with chemicals and other potentially harmful waste materials pose serious threats to
the ecology as well as humans exposed to it. The decomposition also leads to the generation of
methane, which is a greenhouse gas (GHG) and is one of the causes of global warming.
Landfills in India are least scientifically managed. When dumped in landfills, the moisture
contained in waste, augmented by moisture from precipitation, starts to percolate into the sub-soil
and eventually into the groundwater aquifer. This leads to contamination of the groundwater, which
in many cities in India, serves as a source of drinking water for many inhabitants, particularly the
economically weaker sections that rely on hand-pumps for water supply.
Most landfills, due to pressure on land for real estate, are now surrounded by residential colonies
and other buildings that house the upper economic strata as well. The occupants of these buildings
face long-term and short-term health hazards due to pollution in the air as well as in the water.
Solutions
Based on the primary functions performed in the building, waste segregation should be worked
out as a ‘waste-to-wealth’ strategy. This is best done if segregated waste is considered as part of a
stream for resource recovery (See next criteria for resource recovery from waste). So, a contract may
be signed with an agency that collects waste for recycling or an itinerant collector or an NGO that
manages rag pickers to ensure that the paper waste is collected from the site and channelized into
the recycling stream.
Following is a list of solutions for storage and segregation of waste in different types of buildings.
# All commercial buildings should have arrangement for storage of segregated waste. Commercial
waste means by-products and materials consumed during business activities and building
management and maintenance.
• During the operational use of a commercial building, the major quantity of waste generated
comes from consumables associated with the business activities of the occupants (paper,
cardboard, food waste, and so on).
• Management maintenance activities typically generate a smaller proportion of operational
waste sources, but can include hazardous wastes such as chemicals, contaminated water or
non-recyclable equipment.
# Hotels and restaurants should have in-house arrangements for treating biodegradable waste.
Offices should have arrangements for recycling of items such as paper and cardboards, toner
cartridges, batteries, mobile phones, and e-waste. E-waste should only be given to registered
e-waste handling agencies.
# All market waste (from fish/slaughterhouses/vegetable/fruit/flower markets) should have
arrangements for composting of the organic waste.
# Waste generated during building operation: Tenants, building management, and owners
contribute to tenancy and building refurbishment-associated waste. Such waste results from
changes in function, quality, efficiency, and so on.
