Today, waste management is becoming more important than ever. It has become vital not only to those industries typically associated with the need for waste management, but all forms including industries, urban, biomedical as well as domestic uses. The benefits are immeasurable. It is not just a question of looking after the environment but a question of operating with greater efficiency. Waste can come in the form of inefficient use of resources, the use of sub-optimal resources, or simply streaming and improving any existing process.
Industry generates an estimated 100 million tons/annum of non-hazardous solid wastes and 8 million tons/annum of hazardous waste. About 60% wastes, i.e., 4.8 million tons/annum is estimated to be recyclable and the remaining 3.2 million tons/year is non-recyclable.
Apart from industrial waste, electronics waste is a major concern area for the government.
Municipal solid waste management is one of the most permeative issue of urban India today. In respect of ensuring cleanliness in the cities and towns, under the ages of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Government has setup a target of achieving Scientific Solid Waste Management in 4041 cities/ towns for 30.6 crore persons in next four years.
Indian government has recognised the waste-to-energy sector as a renewable technology and has allocated nearly Rs.200 crore (as per MNRES report).
India generates 0.33 million tonnes of hospital waste. Poor awareness of all categories of health workers and improper handling of biomedical waste create a major risk for health worker. To further strengthen the proper biomedical waste management practices, the new draft Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2015 shall apply to all persons who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose, or handle bio-medical waste.
