India is the most populous country in the world and is growing quickly. As it develops and urbanizes, waste production is also increasing. India produces more than 1,70,338 TPD waste out of which only 91,512 is treated. The overflowing rivers and garbage-filled areas show how people often throw away their trash carelessly. 

Let’s see the 3 major challenges in India’s waste management:

1. Lack of proper infrastructure and resources

The ways waste is collected and disposed of in India are not very effective. This is a big problem given the large amount of waste produced. India's urban areas have very high population density. This leads to a large amount of solid waste. Rural communities also struggle with waste management. They lack proper systems to handle waste effectively.

Not Enough Facilities for Waste Processing

India has few plants and composting units that turn waste into energy. As a result, most waste ends up in open landfills. These landfills, like said before, are unsanitary; soils and the underground water are polluted by them

Waste Collection Systems Need Improvement
Many homes in India struggle to sort and dispose of waste properly. This shows a need for better waste collection systems. Waste collection from door to door happens at random times. Public waste bins are often missing or full.

Inability to Access Financial Resources

 Cities that work to remove waste often struggle to stay within budget limits. Inadequate budget capital restricts the investments in next-generation refuse management devices and the upkeep of current equipment.

Without the ability to separate and recycle the waste, the systems end up becoming clogged, and the untreated waste fills up.

2. Low public awareness and participation

Waste management operations in India require a high level of awareness and participation from the citizens, however the current condition in the country is that people litter waste and dispose of it in a manner which is unhygienic. It is against the cultural norm to properly dispose of plastic waste, which only aggravates the problem.

Aggressive campaigns have made cultivating awareness easier but there are still gaps that remain, due to the lack of communication and overall education regarding waste management. Poor efforts hurt recycling and composting. Often, this leads to more waste going to landfills.

People are hesitant to adapt to cleaning methods even when it is explained to them how much the environment will benefit. Waste disposal and management are not seen as a shared responsibility instead they are seen as a governmental issue. Only when the population is involved actively in waste disposal and management will advanced systems be able to work.

3. Weak Policy Implementation and Enforcement

India’s waste management strategies, rules and policies have been found wanting delivering on their proclaimed goals.

Weak Policies
The Plastic Waste Management Rules of 2016 and the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016 provide guidelines for waste disposal. They outline what actions are acceptable and what actions are not. The policies see enormous failure when they are not accepted in their fullness by local bodies, industries and individuals.

Poor Governance

A weak management structure leads to lost resources. This, in turn, wastes money on waste management projects. Providing insufficient resources or reusing the resources allocated for waste management makes it only harder for these projects to commence.

Divided Systems

All waste management is collective and encompasses a number of parties; municipalities, private agencies and the local government to name a few. This often leads to uncoordinated systems resulting in delayed action on the target issue.

A better governance structure and firm believe in policies should be talked over in order to remove these problems.

So, should we blame the government for all the fault? We are also at fault at how to treat waste. How can we help?
To overcome this challenges we have to make changes at ground level and as the common saying “Charity begins at home”. Let’s be conscious and make others conscious too as “Waste management begins at home”.

3 Effective ways on how to deal with the challenges in India’s waste management:

1. Conduct Waste Segregation

To begin with, classify your waste according to wet and dry at the origin point, and discourage any mix. This minimization makes sure that the materials meant for recycling are clean, and easier to handle. Promote this practice to your family and community, so that the segregation effort becomes a team work.

2.Cut Down on One-Time Plastics

Bring cloth sacks when you hit the stores, and go for steel or glass jars over plastic ones. Don’t forget a refillable water bottle too. Cutting back on these throwaway plastics does way more than just lower trash levels—it’s fighting against plastic trash messing up our planet.
We can also practise making Ecobricks out of plastic waste. Check Anuj Ramatri video on how to make them and you can also sell Ecobricks here.

3. Compost organic waste

Transform your kitchen leftovers and yard trimmings into valuable compost. By doing this, you reduce the biodegradable waste that goes to the dump. You also help lower methane gases. Plus, you get a green alternative to artificial plant food for your garden.

Okay, tackling India’s trash trouble isn’t impossible, right? 

We need to focus on making the right choices to improve waste management. We should help people understand the trash problem and ensure that rules are followed. Its like everyone needs to help with garbage and understand what to do with it. We also need to get the legal side sorted out. That’s the ticket to cleaning the place up and heading towards a future where India isn’t knee-deep in waste.