Solid Waste Management and Health of Workers

Abstract

At the policy level state has made a transition from Laissez Faire to Regulator to Facilitator mode globally and so is the case in India. Since the adoption of New Economic policies it has got momentum in every arena and similar is the case vis-a-vis waste management. In contemporary times urbanization is a global phenomenon, but its ramifications are more pronounced in developing countries. Natural growth of population, reclassifications of habitation and migration trends are important in urban population in India. Global experience shows that when a country’s urban population reaches almost 25 % of the overall population (as in the case of India), the pace of urbanization accelerates. Due to rapid urbanization and uncontrolled growth rate of population, Solid Waste Management (SWM) has become an important issue in India. Municipal bodies and other organizations in India render SWM services. Though it is an essential service, it is not given due attention which it deserves and also the services are poor. Presently, the SWM systems are assuming importance due to population increase in municipal areas, scope for legal intervention, emergence of newer technologies and rising public awareness towards cleanliness. Human activities create waste. The way these wastes are handled, stored, collected and disposed, they can pose a risk to the environment and to the public health. Where intense human activities concentrate, such as in urban centres, appropriate and safe SWM are of utmost importance to allow healthy living conditions for the population. In India municipal corporations are primarily responsible for solid waste management and with growing urban population are facing financial crunch. The scarce revenues earmarked for the municipalities make them ill-equipped to provide for high cost involved in the collection, storage, treatment and proper disposal of waste. They collect waste from municipal bins and depots. A substantial part of the municipal solid waste generated remains unattended and grows in the heaps at the collection centres. Open dumping of garbage facilitates breeding of disease vectors such as flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats and other pests. The present paper endeavours to understand the load of Municipal solid waste collection and the situation of those engaged in the process.