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31/08/2020

Editorial Notes[Editorial Notes] Solid Waste Management in India: Challenges & SolutionsIndia generates about 275 million tonnes of waste per year and the majority of which is untreated.By IASToppersAugust 29, 2020

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Contents
Introduction
Legacy waste in India
Solid waste Management Rules 2016
Challenges
Way Forward
Conclusion
Solid Waste Management in India: Challenges & Solutions

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Introduction:
The complete absence of urban planning has left India with mountains of waste-landfills, waste-choked drains, water bodies and rivers. This is called legacy waste, a cumulative consequence of decades of neglect and lack of foresight.

Legacy waste in India:
India generates about 275 million tonnes of waste per year.
With current waste treatment rates of about 20-25%, the majority of waste is untreated, piled in a heap or landfills, and an equal amount in drains and river bodies.
There are about 48 recognised landfills across India, together covering nearly 5,000 acres of land, with a total land value of about Rs 100,000 crore.
There are only 92 large WTE (Waste to Energy) plants in India.
Only a small fraction of these are operational, and the operational plants, run at suboptimal capacity.
India generates the most waste globally, and if moving at the same pace, by 2050 our waste generation will double.

Solid Waste Management Rules 2016:
SWMR, 2016 replace the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000.
The rules are now applicable beyond municipal areas and include urban agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships etc.
It focusses on segregation of waste at source, the responsibility of the manufacturer to dispose of sanitary and packaging wastes.
It has the provision of collecting user fees for collection, disposal and processing from the bulk generator.
The bio-degradable waste should be treated through composting or bio-methanation within the premises and residual waste shall be given to the waste collectors or agency as directed by the local authority.
It promotes the use of compost, conversion of waste into energy, revision of parameters for landfills location and capacity.
The Rules for the Safe Treatment of Legacy Waste prescribe bio-remediation and bio-mining in all open dumpsites and existing operational dumpsites in India.
Challenges:
These are major problems unique to India and require both community and technological solutions.
Entry to drains in India is choked with pan masala, shampoo sachets, chips packets etc.
Drains and water bodies, emptying into Indian rivers carry with them an unimaginable amount of waste.
The Ganga is among the top 10 polluted rivers in the world, together accounting for 90% of the total ocean plastic pollution.
State governments are hit due to lack of technology and a rigid procurement system.
Most of the technology/equipment needed for waste management is imported, expensive and often not suited in our varied local situations.
India faces the insurmountable challenge of treating legacy waste, with a continuous accumulation of fresh waste every day.
Way Forward:
1. Customised technological solutions:

Municipalities need to have access to affordable technology which has been piloted and validated under Indian conditions.
India needs affordable, decentralised, customised solutions for its land-constrained complex city matrix.
Example: Amphibian equipment to clean water bodies is imported and can work well for large water bodies. Indigenisation of design and manufacturing of such equipment for smaller drains and water bodies is essential.
Robotic long-hand scavenging machines to unclog drains, booms which filter and prevent waste in our drains entering a larger water body.
2. Ease of procurement:

India needs focused action is the ease of procurement.
Evolving a less cumbersome process for the procurement of technology and equipment is imperative.
For India’s large fraction of organic waste, biological treatment like bio-methanation should be considered.
3. Key Policy changes:

The speedy changes are needed in policy which can accelerate the removal of waste exponentially.
One way is to unlock the land value under landfills. By allowing agencies, companies or industry that clear waste, to own the land (fully or partially as per mutually agreed terms) can fund the clean-up.
A land payback can be a major incentive to recover the estimated 5,000 acres of prime land taken up by landfills.
4. Trained personnel:

India needs to develop skilled and trained professional personnel to operate and maintain the waste management chain.
It starts from right from collection, operation and maintenance of waste-handling plants, with full use of mechanisation.
5. Move towards zero-waste society:

The final focus area is to move to a zero-waste society.
India was traditionally a society where little was wasted and everything could be reused and recycled.
6. Education, Awareness and laws:

The amount of waste, waste collection and recycling rates must be increased.
Education and participation of the public and other stakeholders should be encouraged.
The solid waste management legal framework should be strong enough to penalize noncompliance under bylaws, rules, and regulations.
Conclusion:
Design of waste management (collection and treatment) should be the bedrock of a well-planned smart city, town or village. A well-designed waste-management strategy, cognizant of Indian constraints, will be the hallmark of Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat and Unnat Bharat.
Science and technology must provide solutions to the urgent waste menace faced by the country.

28/08/2020

The benefits of waste management for business
April 2, 2019

BLOG|COMMERCIAL WASTE

Reduce, reuse, recycle—it’s fast becoming a mantra of the Anthropocene, a maxim highlighting our increasing impact on the global environment. Some estimates suggest that the world’s trash pile is set to grow by 70% by the year 2050, and every aspect of the way in which we manage our waste is coming under increased scrutiny. From our personal habits at home to the largest of multinational corporations, the advantages waste management are becoming ever more apparent.

Today, even the most localized businesses are discovering the far-reaching consequences of their day-to-day operations, and the most innocent of commercial practices are suddenly taking on a new and insidious significance. Plastic straws, cotton swabs, grocery bags—all have been singled out as particularly destructive despite their ubiquity and seemingly prosaic place in the world.

The rise of responsible waste management for businesses is, in part, thanks to our new found awareness of how we affect the world around us on a local, national, and global scale.

Previously, trends within the sector have focused on how consumers are driving the creation of increasing amounts of waste as part of a “throw-away” culture. However, only recently has this focus shifted to the obligations of businesses and how they might implement better systems and create more sustainable waste management practices at the source. Subsequently, responsible waste management is a growing concern, not only as part of a more ethical and eco-friendly approach to business, but also as a way to grow and enhance current operations.

In a changing landscape, new challenges are presented daily. However, these challenges are driving innovation and change. While “doing the right thing” is both admirable and encouraged, businesses are beginning to catch on to a whole host of other benefits that are part and parcel of effective waste management systems. More than simply the removal of waste, forward-thinking waste management solutions allow businesses to track, measure and improve processes, build healthier workplaces, and boost brand image.

Here then, we look at some of the benefits of waste management and why the reduce, reuse, and recycle tag is much more than just a catchy slogan.

Improve Operational Efficiency
For businesses of any size, improving operational efficiency is a core concern. An often overlooked yet crucial aspect of this concept is the way you deal with your trash. Streamlining waste management processes allows you to unlock a broad range of benefits that can help you improve the day-to-day running of your business and stay one step ahead of the competition.

Recycling makes good financial sense for most businesses.

Put simply, sorting waste correctly and recycling properly means less waste goes to landfill, which may help reduce the costs of removal. Reusing materials brings even greater benefits in this sense, allowing you to stretch your budget just that little bit further. Finally, by creating actionable plans to actively reduce the amount of waste you generate, your staff spend less time sorting, loading, and removing materials from the premises.

Subsequently, the areas where waste is stored are cleaner, safer and more hygienic. This is particularly important in the food and hospitality industries, or indeed, any customer facing enterprise. Correct waste management allows your business to avoid overflowing trash containers and the potential hazards they pose. This in turn reduces liability and helps you avoid any potential fines as covered in our next point.

Remain Compliant
As the world’s waste problem has grown, and awareness surrounding the issue has expanded, governments have been forced to respond. The location of your business will play a large part in how much our next point affects you, however, there’s no denying that regulation around business waste is becoming increasingly stringent. The recent rise in US states banning plastic straws is just one example of how legislation can affect business, and it highlights how quickly both attitudes and policy can change.

Today, your business must reach and remain compliant with local, national, and even global regulations and laws.

Failure to meet these standards may mean fines or even the removal of critical licenses required to operate. Additionally, these types of regulation look set to increase over the coming years, particularly as governments have a bigger say in how society manages its waste as a whole.

However, by implementing a robust and adaptive waste management plan, not only can you easily meet the targets required by law, but you can also take advantage of any available grants or incentives that may be available for businesses meeting best practice frameworks. The benefits of waste management here are clear, remain compliant or risk losing your business.

Source New Revenue Streams

For ingenious business owners, waste management provides yet another revenue stream to explore, and waste materials are proving to be a valuable resource within themselves. For example, with the explosion of innovative materials and textiles based on organic matter, companies are actively searching out reliable sources of waste for use as raw materials.

For manufacturers, raw materials can either be used to make new products or sold off to other businesses who might have a use for them. Either way, the correct collection, storage and distribution of these materials is key, and efficient sorting processes and reliable collections are crucial to success.

Improve Brand Image

Today, consumers are increasingly vigilant as to the waste practices of any business.

With this in mind, perhaps one of the less tangible benefits of waste management is the opportunity to please customers through improving brand image. Of course, this is much easier for multinationals such as Apple or Google that regularly command front page headlines, however, even the smallest businesses can make a difference.

Donating old technology to local organizations, gifting last season’s unsold clothing to charity, and even handing out free meals using food destined for landfill—all of these ideas will go some way to ingratiating you to clients and customers. Additionally, a simple commitment to eco-principles and sustainability can be equally as effective, essentially aligning your business with more ethical practice and offering greater transparency for your customer base.

Boost Employee Morale

It’s not only consumers who are concerned with the way your business manages waste, but your employees too. Increasing staff awareness and responsibility towards eco issues provides a welcome morale boost, ensuring everyone is not only working towards a greener future for the environment but also towards a cleaner and healthier workplace.

Sustainable business practice goes hand-in-hand with environmental sustainability, and proper staff training will ensure everyone is on the same page.

Put it this way, if your staff recognize a commitment to improving both the local and global environment, they too will take greater pride in their workplace and your business. Additionally, as the world moves towards greater sustainability, environmentally conscious employees will become the standard, and your business will be able to wear its eco-friendly status on its sleeve.

Discover More Waste Management Advantages with RTS
As businesses catch-on to the numerous benefits of waste management solutions, it is clear that practices will change, and environmental sustainability will subsequently grow. Companies will increasingly move towards the Zero Waste concept—a philosophy that aims ensure that no trash is sent to landfill. Achieving Zero Waste is only possible only when properly analyzing an organization’s purchasing of products and the packaging they arrive in.

The key is to ensure that both products and packaging are recyclable and environmentally responsible.

From this foundation, companies can then implement frequent training for employees and proper signage to further streamline the waste management process. However, a critical piece of the puzzle remains, and the total transparency, accountability, and validation of the removal trucks that collect and haul to the proper facilities ensures collaboration throughout the entire supply chain—from cradle to grave.

To enable companies and organizations to reach this ultimate diversion goal, RTS leverages innovative technology to connect reliable and accountable haulage operators across a broad range of sectors —giving your business a tailor-made solution designed to work seamlessly with your existing operations. We can also help you monitor your existing waste management practices and provide you with the data you need to build more sustainable processes. Whatever your requirements, we are on-hand to help you discover even more business advantages in the field of waste management.

21/06/2020

India based Rhino Machines introduces brick made from recycled plastic and sand

by Allie Shiell for Archello

Ketan Patel

19 Jun 2020 Building Innovations

The problem: India currently accounts for 10% of world production in the casting and forging industry, of which carbon dust and residue from recycled waste forms nearly 4.3 million metric tons of dumped waste each year, a huge environmental hazard. Added to this is mixed plastic dumping taken across the country by hospitals, industry and society at large. The result is landfills cropping up every few kilometers across major cities.
Ketan Patel
India based company, Rhino Machines has launched the Silica Plastic Blocks - a sustainable building brick that is made from recycling foundry dust/sand waste (80%) and mixed plastic waste (20%). The project comes in collaboration with r+d labs, which is the research wing of the architectural firm R+D Studio.
20% shredded plastic
The ‘Silica-Plastic Block’ Project seeks to find a solution within the problem and thus started with a clear mandate achieving zero waste from the sand reclamation portion of the Rhino Machines Foundry Plant. In the initial stages, experiments were conducted by using foundry dust in cement-bonded fly ash bricks (7-10% waste recycled) and clay bricks (15% waste recycled). The above experiments additionally required the use of natural resources such as cement, fertile soil and water. The amount of natural resources consumed in the process was not justified by the waste it was able to recycle.
Ketan Patel
These trials led to more research by the inhouse R&D team, resulting in a possibility of bonding the sand/foundry dust with plastic. By using plastic as a bonding agent, the need for water during mixing and thereafter curing is completely eliminated. The ‘Silica-Plastic Blocks’ can be directly used after cooling down from molding process. These plastic blocks were found to be 2.5 times the strength of normal red clay bricks and consumed around 70 to 80% of the foundry dust with 80% lesser use of natural resources.
Ketan Patel
With further testing and development, newer molds were prepared to test these blocks as paver blocks. Over a period of 4 months, various industries such as hospitals, societies, individuals, social organizations and the local municipal corporations were approached to provide clean plastic. In total, six tonnes of plastic waste and sixteen tonnes of dust and sand from the foundry industry was collected for recycling. Since the SPB is a result of a waste product, the cost of production is competitive and can easily compete with the commonly available red clay brick or the CMU ( Concrete Masonry Unit).

Rhino Machines is now preparing to come up with an ecosystem solution so that the foundries across the country can develop and distribute these SPBs within their impact zones through CSR. (Corporate Social Responsibility - a Government of India initiative for businesses to undertake philanthropic causes and give back to the community). These SPBs could be used to build walls, toilets, school campuses, health clinics, pavers, driveways and more.

21/06/2020

Under central government's PRASAD , waste will be collected from centres under the trust along with Somnath town and some areas of Prabhas Patan.

The Somnath temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga (self-manifested) shrines of Lord Shiva in coastal town of Veraval in Saurashtra, which opened on June 8 after the lockdown, has embarked on an ambitious project of recycling the huge collection of dry and wet waste it generates. Though the temple is yet to begin full-fledged operations, disciples have been offering flowers, leaves etc at the shrine. Besides plastic, metal, paper and other waste is also generated from the various centres run by the Somnath Trust.

According to Pravin Laheri, secretary, Somnath Trust, "For the past few years, the Trust has been working to reduce pollution by banning the use of plastic within the temple premises, collecting waste among other things. Now we have decided to recycle the waste not only generated from the temple, but other surrounding areas falling under municipal jurisdiction in a scientific manner. We had designed this proposal 2 years ago and submitted it to the Central government under PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive), which was approved by the government."

As per Vijaysinh Chavda, general manager, Somnath Temple Trust, there are 40 temples, five guesthouses, gaushala, bhojanshala etc under the temple trust management. The temple generates waste of billi patra (leaves of bael tree that are offered to Shiva), flowers and garlands amounting to 90 kg on a regular day and 500 kg during festivals. Other wet waste collection amounts to 400 kg a day on regular days, which increases to 1,000 kg during festivals. "We have ordered special machinery to recycle the waste. The recycling has already started, but machines will arrive and full recycling will start within 20 days. The total project cost would be Rs 2.5 crore. Somnath would be the first temple in state to scientifically recycle the waste with such a sophisticated manner," Chavda said.

Giving details of the project, Solanki said, "All the waste collected would be brought to a place about one-and-a-half km from the temple. This place will be the Garbage Processing Unit. A huge shed of 13,600 sq ft has already been created at this place. The waste would be segregated at the processing site. The wet waste would be used to create manure, while the dry waste would be sold to scrap dealers. The green waste will take two days to process. Thereafter vermicomposting will be done for 45 days to get the manure ready for use. This will fertilise three billi patra farms and one mango farm. It will also be used at a farm that grows feed for the cattle, while the surplus feed would be sold at Rs 5/kg."...........

By Nischal Sanghavi

16/05/2020

National Dengue Day
National Dengue Day is observed in India on May 16 with the recommendation of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to create awareness about dengue; and to intensify preventive measures and preparedness for the control of disease in the country before transmission season starts.

Dengue is prevalent throughout the country. In 2017 maximum numbers of dengue cases were reported from Tamilnadu followed by Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Delhi and other states .

Facts about dengue

Dengue is a viral disease caused by dengue virus (DENV, 1–4 serotypes)
Dengue is transmitted by bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses.
Aedes aegepti mosquito bites during daylight hours.
Person develops symptoms 3-14 days after the infective bite.
Patients who are already infected with the dengue virus can transmit the infection to other via Aedes mosquitoes during 4-5 days of onset of symptoms.
Dengue prevention and control depends on effective vector control measures.

Dengue fever starts with sudden onset of fever, followed by severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever has an acute onset of fever followed by abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding. A small proportion of cases may show fatal disease as dengue shock syndrome.

There are no specific antiviral medicines for dengue. Early clinical diagnosis by physician and proper clinical management lowers the fatality rates below1%. Use of analgesics (pain reliever) with paracetamol, promoting patient to drink plenty of fluids and rest are important.

Use of acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. aspirin) and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. Ibuprofen) is not recommended.

Prevention and control

Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programe is the nodal centre for the surveillance and prevention of dengue in India. Integrated disease surveillance programme also helps in disease surveillance and outbreak detection/investigation of dengue in the country.

Notification of dengue cases

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has made notification of dengue cases essential. All government health institutions and private hospitals and clinics are required to inform office of the district health authority of concerned district to notify suspected dengue cases reported at their health institution every week or daily during transmission season.

Precautions

Water from coolers and other small containers (plastic containers, buckets, used automobile tyres, water coolers, pet watering containers and flower vases) should be removed at least once in a week.
Appropriate larvicides should be used to water storage containers that cannot be emptied.
Water storages containers should be kept covered with lid.
Aerosol can be used during day time to prevent the bites of mosquitoes.
During transmission season (rainy season) all persons can wear clothes that cover arms and legs.
Mosquito nets or mosquito repellents can be used while sleeping during day time.
Personal protective measures such as window screens, insecticide treated bednets, coils and vaporizers can be used to prevent mosquito bites
Dengue patient should be prevented from mosquito bites. This will prevent further spread of dengue to other persons.

“Dengue prevention and control should be everyone’s concern”.

"Participate in Swacch Bharat Mission"

24/03/2020

World Water Day
As we all confront the coronavirus pandemic, you can’t turn on the news without hearing about handwashing. But how do families wash their hands when clean water is miles away? Around the world, 40% of people lack access to basic handwashing facilities at home, and 780 million people do not have access to a quality water source.

World Water Day, marked each year on March 22, is an opportunity to think about the vital importance of water and those who lack it – and to take action. Without a reliable source of water, basic sanitation and hygiene are nearly impossible, putting people at greater risk for poor health and diseases like coronavirus, diarrhea, and cholera. For communities already battling hunger, the effects can be devastating.

Lack of access to water also puts women and girls at greater risk: When water is not available at home, women and girls are responsible for collecting it 80% of the time. Often, this means they make long and sometimes dangerous trips to the nearest water point.

Some key facts about water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH):

1 in 3 people lack safe drinking water.

4.2 billion people do not have access to safely managed sanitation services.

Poor WASH conditions are a leading cause of childhood stunting, or chronic malnutrition.

Unsafe drinking water, inadequate availability of water for hygiene, and lack of access to sanitation together contribute to about 88% of deaths from diarrheal diseases.

11/03/2020

The West Bengal Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) has held that the Public health, sanitation, conservancy, and solid waste management that such service is a function of ‘public health’ entrusted to Municipalities under Article 243W of the Constitution eligible for exemption.

The Applicant is stated to be providing solid waste management service to the Conservancy Department of the Howrah Municipal Corporation and sewer cleansing service to the Sewerage and Drainage Department of HMC.

The HMC is deducting TDS while paying consideration for the above supply in terms of Notification of Central Tax and State Government Order.

The Applicant seeks a ruling on whether the above supply is exempted in terms of Notification No. 1212017- Central Tax (Rate) as amended from time to time (Exemption Notification), and if so, whether the notifications regarding TDS are applicable in his case.

The applicant contended that the Exemption Notification exempts from payment of GST any “pure service” provided to the Central Government, State Government or Union territory or local authority or a governmental authority or a Government Entity by way of any activity in relation to any function entrusted to a Panchayat under Article 243G of the Constitution or in relation to any function entrusted to a Municipality under Article 243W of the Constitution.

The applicant also submitted that the recipient, being a municipal corporation, is a local authority also submits copies of the work orders issued, specification and terms and conditions of the work, etc. to establish that he supplies pure service and, therefore, the exemption under Sl No. 3 of the Exemption Notification applies to his supplies.

The bench includes Joint Commissioner, Susmita Bhattacharya and Senior Joint Commissioner, Parthasarathi Dey pronounced the order based on an application filed by M/s Dolphin Techno Waste Management Private Limited.

The Bench observed the clarification of that the Service Tax notification under the service tax-exempts “services provided to the Government, a local authority or a governmental authority by way of water supply, public health, sanitation, conservancy, solid waste management or slum improvement and up-gradation.”

The Circular further explains in relation to the specific issue of ambulance service to the Government by a private service provider (PSP) that such service is a function of ‘public health’ entrusted to Municipalities under Art 243W of the Constitution, and, therefore, eligible for exemption of the Exemption Notification.

Furthermore, The bench said that the Article 243W of the Constitution that states the powers, authority, and responsibilities of a Municipality, refers to the functions listed under the Twelfth Schedule as may be entrusted to the authority. Sl No. 6 of the Twelfth Schedule refers to public health, sanitation, conservancy, and solid waste management. The Applicant’s supply to HMC is a function mentioned under Sl No. 6 of the Twelfth Schedule, Applicant’s service to HMC, therefore, is exempt under Sl No. 3 of the Exemption Notification.

11/03/2020

Compostable plastics often go to landfill. Here's one venue that gets them composted

Ottawa’s National Arts Centre and its composter show careful sourcing, testing, training are key

Compostable plastics
These are some of the compostable items used by the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. They're made from a bioplastic called polylactic acid, or PLA. In North America, it's usually made from corn kernels. (Emily Chung/CBC News)
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Certified compostable plastic cups, cutlery, coffee pods, clamshell containers and other packaging may be touted as greener options at the grocery store, but they're banned from most residential organics programs in Canada, a recent Marketplace episode showed.

The good news is that while you typically can't put them in your green bin for curbside pickup, some of these compostable plastic products are being composted in Canada by composting facilities that deal with organic waste from commercial and institutional buildings, and even some condo and apartment buildings.

One example is the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, a venue owned by the federal government that has four halls and can accommodate up to 4,000 people at a time. Last summer, it switched all its dishware and cutlery to compostable options, including paper and sugarcane fibre cups and containers, as well as PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic drinking cups, coffee cup lids, forks and spoons, and salad bowls and their lids. (PLA is typically made from corn kernels in North America.)

Composting these items has diverted over half a million pieces of waste from the landfill so far, estimates Nelson Borges, the facility's general manager of food and beverage.

The National Arts Centre also gets back some of the finished compost for its rooftop garden, where it grows saffron and raises bees in two hives.

"We're using it, turning it back into compost that now fertilizes our plants," Borges said. "So yeah, there's a way to do this."

That said, it wasn't as easy as it sounds. Here's how the NAC did it.

The Public Health And Sanitation Education.

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