Domestic wastes

Normally, domestic waste is not very dangerous. That is why this waste is segregated into wet and dry waste. The dry waste is further separated into different categories. Paper, plastic, iron, lead and these items are sent off for recycling.

Wet waste includes vegetables, leaves, food items gone bad and spoilt fruit or their peel. This waste can be buried in the soil to make compost for agriculture or for use in gardening. It can be composed by sprinkling cow dung water on it and introducing earthworms to convert it into vermin- compost. Alternatively, the wet waste can also be sent to piggeries or used to feed the milch cattle.

Municipal solid waste in the cities of Andhra Pradesh

The condition in small cities or municipalities

Presently, in 2006, 97 lakh residents living in 3,515 wards of the 121 municipalities of Andhra Pradesh produce about 5,534 tonnes of waste every day. To dispose of this waste, 66 compost yards have been put up. About 2,311 tonnes of wastes is dumped in them every day. About 3,068 tonnes of wastes are thrown in the open. About 13,000 employees work on the collection and disposal of this waste.

Conditions in the larger cities or Municipal Corporations

There are 14 municipal corporations in our state. These cover 681 wards. According to the census reports, 88 Lakhs people live here. A total of 5,737 tonnes of waste is generated every day. Out of his, 3,635 tonnes is collected and disposed at 16 designated dumpsites every day and 1900 tonnes of waste is disposed of elsewhere. About 21,232 people are employed to handle the takes of waste collection and disposal.

Of the waste in small cities or municipalities, only 42% is disposed of in the dumpsites. The remaining 58% of the waste is thrown in open spaces/ vacant lands. In the larger cities or municipal corporation areas, about 63% of the waste is being taken to compost yards. The remaining 37% is disposed of in uninhabited places.

Presently, most large cities are facing shortage of land to dump their wastes. Now, people on the outskirts of cities also protest if waste is dumped near there homes. Further, being close to the cities, such areas are turning into residential areas. Their land price is shooting up.

Looking at there is growing problem. That is the waste should be separated at source into dry and wet wastes. As has been discussed earlier, the wet waste could be turned into manure and the dry waste may be recycled or reused in some way. It can also be systematically disposed of in sanitary landfills.

At Auto Nagar in Vanasthalipuram and in Gandhamguda area in Hyderabad, the waste dump had polluted the groundwater as the rainwater seeped through it into the aquifers, carrying with it the nitrates from the waste. The dumpsite also release bad odour. Following protests from the local people, attempts are being made to shift the waste dump yard from there. Trials to generate electricity from the wastes are also being made.

Adoption of bin culture is the first step in waste management. Terminal waste management practice is the need of the hour, and not merely putting up a dustbin in the house and one in the street.