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HARMONY SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR A HEALTHIER,

HAPPIER WORLD

Harmony is an initiative of IMPRI which aims to help improve waste management through research, advocacy and

provision of technical and operational support.

OUR SERVICES

We are here to help you manage your waste better. We provide you the following services:

- Consultancy/Guidance on setting up a decentralized and inclusive waste recycling system

- Technical Support for setting up and managing composting systems

- Technical Support for setting up and managing dry waste sorting sheds

- Identification, Selection, Training and Recruitment of Waste Pickers to manage dry waste sorting sheds

OUR CLIENTS

We provide research, consultancy as well as technical and operational support for waste management. Our clients

therefore include the following:

1. Institutional Complexes (Housing societies, schools, colleges, universities, commercial complexes etc.)

looking to manage their waste better

2. Governments (Local, State, National) looking for research, technical or operational support for better

waste management or for inclusion of waste pickers

3. Agencies looking to engage technical support agencies for waste management and inclusion of waste

pickers

OUR VISION

A society where:

1. All resources are utilized to the fullest possible extent,

2. Everyone (especially waste pickers) is engaged in decent work where they are able to utilized their own

skills and creativity to the fullest and

3. Everyone lives a life of respect and dignity

4. Nothing goes to waste

5. A greener cleaner planet where everyone breathes fresh clean air and drinks fresh clean water and eats

healthy food

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CONTACT

Please contact:

Anjor Bhaskar

Director, IMPRI Eastern India

Email: anjorbhaskar1@gmail.com

Phone: 9873151999, 9453731509

UNDERSTANDING SOLID WASTE

GROWTH IN SOLID WASTE

With rising urbanization and changes in lifestyles and food habits, our production as well as consumption

is increasing – so are the byproducts of our production and consumption – one of which is waste. India is

one of the fastest developing as well as urbanizing nations – by 2025, more than 40% of its population

will live in India’s cities i.e. approx 40 crore people. Consequently the production of waste is also growing

at one of the fast rates in the world. At present, India produces more than 70 Million Tonnes of Municipal

Solid Waste every single year.

If we assume that 1 kg of waste occupies a volume of about 1 square foot, then this is enough to cover half

of Delhi in a one foot high layer of garbage every year. At present rates, in 2 years, all of Delhi could be

covered in a one foot high pile of garbage. With growth in consumerism, India is expected to produce over

1,25,000 MT Municipal Solid Waste by the year 2030. In that case, we would be producing enough waste

every day to cover the city of Delhi in a one foot high pile of garbage.

The present MSW generation in Ranchi is around 500 tonnes per day and this figure is expected to rise

rapidly as well. Most of this waste is dumped in a village called Jhiri, about 15 km away from Ranchi on

Ratu Road.

Can you imagine the status of the people who live in and around that village?

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Figure 1: Picture of Jhiri, a village about 15 km from Ranchi, where all of Ranchi's Municipal Solid Waste is dumped.

WHAT IS WASTE

Anything that is useless for us is waste. The solid waste generated by the urban population is referred as

Municipal Solid Waste (M.S.W.) and includes household waste (leftover food, vegetable and fruit peels,

kitchen refuse, waste paper, used cane, packaging material, grass clippings, clothes, glass, metals etc.),

construction & demolition debris, waste from commercial institutions (shops, stalls, small factories,

companies) dust and other waste from streets etc.

CURRENT WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: -

Ranchi citizens throw waste at every place - on the street, back alleys, roads, empty spaces, drains, parks,

(and the city’s favourite dumpyard – river Harmu) - and blame the municipality for not cleaning their

mess. Anywhere one goes, one is likely to see heaps of waste in front of shops, resident areas, and offices

(except of course near Vidhan Sabha where our leaders and top bureaucrats reside). It is in these heaps of

waste that disease germs, infections, flies and mosquitoes breed – not to mention the sights and smells

produced by these piles of heap.

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Municipal bodies have the responsibility to arrange for daily cleaning, collection, transportation,

processing and proper disposal of solid waste. However, they lack sufficient resources – financial, human

and managerial – to manage waste efficiently. They collect only half the city’s waste, and whatever they

collect, they dump in neighboring villages on the outskirts of the city. Naturally, the villagers are not too

happy with that and often rise up in revolt. The JNNURM opened up new doors by providing a burst of

finance to Municipalities. Municipalities thus rushed for new and expensive technologies such as Refused

Derived Fuel, incinerators and Waste-to-Energy plants which are proving to have serious environmental

and social implications.

Figure 2: Timarpur Okhla Waste to Energy Plant in Delhi

IMPLICATIONS:

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The adverse impacts of poor waste management go well beyond our imaginations. Surface and ground

waste contamination takes place when waste reaches water bodies. The various residues from waste can

change the chemical composition of water and affect all levels of an ecosystem. Leachates from landfills,

effluent treating plants and waste disposal sites may result in hazardous substances entering surface

waste, ground water or soil. Many citizens and cleaners burn the waste to remove the filthy sight of waste

– unaware of the disastrous consequences that burning of materials such as plastic and rubber can have

on their health and the health of their children. Landfills are a big source of green house gases which are

generated when organic waste decomposes and are released in large amounts in landfills. Municipal

landfills in India are one of the largest sources of methane - a green house gas 20 times more harmful

than carbon dioxide.

Figure 3: According to Lancet, pollution resulted in 2.51 million deaths in India in 2015. Out of these, 1.81 million were due to air pollution,

0.64 million due to water pollution, 0.17 million due to occupational exposure

Waste also contaminates soil and can harm plants when they absorb contaminants through their roots.

Thus Municipalities put up waste incinerators and Waste to energy plants. However, emissions from

incinerators or other waste-burning devices and landfills causes air contamination. Incinerators routinely

emit dioxins and polychlorinated bi-phenyls which are deadly toxins known to cause cancer and

endocrine system damage.

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Figure 4: Waste Burning by Ranchi Municipal Corporation Workers near Chandni Chowk, Hatia

THE SOLUTION – REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE

What is the solution to our waste woes in this case? We believe in the merit of the 3R’s philosophy i.e.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. If that is too abstract, we can keep the following points in mind.

▪ Do we really need that pack of chips? Or that small sachet of shampoo? Let’s try and cut down on our

consumption of goods with heavy packaging materials. Even if they are purchased, let’s see how we

can use those materials for repackaging.

▪ Do we have to use disposable items – those plastic cups and spoons and thermocole plates? Can’t we

instead washable cups/ utensils, cloth napkins, dusters etc. which can be reused by washing?

▪ We did survive and go shopping before plastic carry bags suddenly flooded the market a few years

ago. We can still avoid them by keeping Jute/cloth bags at the time of shopping.

▪ Do we need to throw our old clothes so soon? Maybe we can use them a little more. And once we’re

done, we can hand it over to someone in need.

▪ Stop! Don’t throw the cauliflower stems!! Our organic waste is actually food for plants – so why throw

it away when we can grow plants on it?

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To promote its vision of an empowered, environmentally conscious community, we have initiated a zero

waste campaign “harmony”, which is mainly based on this 3R’s strategy. The campaign promotes and

facilitates waste collection and recycling by engaging waste pickers, Urban Local Bodies (U.L.B.),

Resident Welfare Associations (R.W.A.), Market Associations, Educational Institutions & wastepickers for

effective solid waste management in the city.

We believe in active public participation in matters that impact them. Since waste management is a

crucial aspect of public life, it is essential that the public be engaged in ensuring an efficient system is set

up and functioning.

HARMONY – OUR WASTE MANAGEMENT SOLUTION - TURNING

WASTE TO WEALTH

In our effort to work towards a cleaner, greener society, we offer comprehensive waste management

solutions to citizens and communities. With over 10 years of experience in working with waste, we have

developed systems which not only ensure efficient collection and recycling of waste, but also use of waste

in greening the community and promoting biodiversity – thereby creating a clean, healthy and beautiful

environment. But remember, we have to work hand in hand in this.

Our waste management solution has three simple components –

1. Collection of Wet/Organic/Biodegradable Waste and Dry/Inorganic/Non-Biodegradable

Waste Separately

2. Recycling of Dry waste

3. Composting of Organic waste

4. Landfiling of the remaining waste (which is less than 15% of the total waste)

COLLECTION OF SEGREGATED WASTE

Remember, the Municipal Solid Waste Rules state that each individual MUST segregate

their waste into different categories before handing it over.

Dry waste collection:

- A waste picker would come to collect dry waste from each household once in every

2-3 days.

- A separate waste collector would come to collect the wet waste every day.

This is possible when citizens keep three separate bins in their house to store different types of waste.

1. A Green bin to store organic or wet waste:

2. A Blue bin to store Inorganic or Dry waste: Blue bin

3. A Red bin to store Toxic waste and waste that can cause physical injury

Residents are requested to segregate at source by throwing organic, inorganic and toxics waste separately

into the appropriate bin. This is where the citizen’s cooperation and effort is most important.

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It’s very simple and easy. So let’s start now!

You can follow the steps give below to segregate waste:

(A) What do we put in the green bin?

1. All left over food items - cooked or uncooked

2. Egg shells, bones, finger nails, hair etc.

3. Fresh or cooked meat, fish etc.

4. Fruits, vegetables and flowers

5. Garden waste like leaves, stems etc from your home garden or public parks

(B) What goes into the blue bin?

1. All types of plastic like polyethylene bags, hard plastic, pet bottles,

2. Waste paper, Cardboards etc.

3. Clothes etc.

4. empty tubes,

5. All types of glass and metal containers,

6. Broken Utensils, wires,

7. All kind of packaging materials, furniture etc

8. Items made from rubber or mixed materials

(C) Red stands for danger, so the dangerous items go into the red bin

These items can also contaminate other good waste which can be used as resource --

1. Used Bulbs,

2. CFLs/ tube rods,

3. Broken glasses/ sharp metals,

4. Medicine/ rappers/ pouches

5. Sanitary napkins/ diapers

2. RECYCLING OF DRY WASTE:

Kitchen Waste,

left over foods,

Peals, garden

waste, etc.

Chemicals,

pins, needles,

broken glass

etc.

Plastic, paper,

card board, etc.

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The waste picker who comes to collect the waste will take the dry waste, sort it out into recyclable and

non-recyclable waste. She will then sell the recyclable waste to scrap traders who will ensure it goes to the

recycling industry.

Figure 5: Waste Pickers sorting through dry waste in Pune. They will separate out the recyclable waste which will be sold to scrap traders.

3. Composting of Organic Waste:

We offer composting services to citizens and communities. All the citizens need to provide is a small space

and bear the small infrastructure cost for building the composting systems. The waste picker will make

not only make sure that the wet waste is composted, but in a few months will make sure it gives rise a

greener and more beautiful environment. We sometimes take the help of our friends, the earthworms,

who love to eat your waste and convert it into more easily digestible food for plants. You can do it yourself

too. Need help. Ask us.

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Figure 6: Newly Constructed Compost Pits

Figure 7: Composting in Ara district in Bihar

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WHY COMPOST? In case you’re still not convinced

➢ Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into valuable

fertilizer for your plants.

➢ It is mandatory for all housing societies formed after the year 2000, to compost organic waste, as per ruling by

the MCD.

➢ Composting is one way of getting an eco-housing clearance where you can avail of a 5% rebate on your

property tax.

➢ Composting also helps the environment because it diverts foods scraps and kitchen waste away from landfill

where it would decompose anaerobically (without air), thus producing methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times

more dangerous to environment than carbon dioxide.

➢ It costs next to nothing to compost, aside from the initial investment. In fact, if you have a garden, your

compost pile can save your money by reducing what you spend on fertilizers.

Wet waste can be easily composted at home or in your school, college, society, colony, university, company complex,

official complex, anywhere.

Contact us if you want a compost unit at your home/ in your society/ schools/ institute/ office on address/ number

mentioned on the back side of the leaflet.

For a small user fee, a trained waste collector will maintain and manage your compost every day.

A supervisor will also make visits to ensure that all is well.

Don’t go by the rumour that compost attracts rodent and flies. Only composting not done properly generates smell or

attracts vermin. Well made compost actually smells beautiful – like fresh, wet earth… Ahhh..

Contact us for any help in troubleshooting existing problems if you are already composting and facing difficulties.

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Wastepickers and Us – some facts

Our cleaning brigade is made up of ex-waste pickers. Waste pickers are self-employed green workers earning a

livelihood by recovering paper, plastic, metal and glass scrap. They are informal sector workers who earn their

livelihood from waste picking from the streets, road sides, community bins, households, market places, shops,

offices & from dumping yards/ landfills. It is estimated that waste pickers pick up 15% to 20% of total waste

generated in large urban centres and pass it on to the informal waste recycling sector through various levels of

intermediaries. These workers thus reduce the burden of municipal bodies by several million rupees a year in

solid waste collection, transportation and disposal costs, as well as resultant saving landfill space in cities.

Most of these people are those who come from villages to the cities in search of employment. Since the

infrastructure of urban areas is not capable of providing employment or sustenance to this huge population,

they resort to this self-employment opportunity, which requires no formal skills, education or financial

investment.

India estimatedly has over 15 Lakh wastepickers and itinerant waste buyers whose work ensures that the

country has one of the highest recycling rates in the world. They keep cities clean, reduce municipal waste

management costs and receive virtually no financial or infrastructural support from the government. Due to

negligence of government agencies they themselves live in sub human conditions with no proper civic facilities.

By providing them training in professional work ethics, dealing with citizens, service delivery – they have

emerged as an indomitable group of workers committed to the cause of a better, cleaner, greener future.

We seek your kind cooperation and support for advancement of the Wastepickers community.

WastepickerSpeak about Climate Change

• We collect 15% - 20% of Delhi’s waste (paper, metal, glass, organic waste …….), sort in into various categories and recycle everything possible. Their recycling helps the municipality keep the city clean.

• We reduce harmful green house gases like Carbon Dioxide and Methane and ensure that you have cleaner air to breathe by recycling garbage.

• For every ton of paper we gather, we save 17 trees that would otherwise be cut for paper. Can you estimate how many forests have saved through our work?

• Without us, recycling in Delhi would be close to Zero. There would be 20% more waste on the streets, 20% less materials available for recycling.