Challenges of Waste Management in the Indian Cold Region

The basic challenges of Solid Waste Management are the inappropriate methods of waste collection, waste transportation, and waste disposal. According to the CPCB, lack of infrastructure, insufficient budget allotment to the municipal authorities, and improper waste collection or waste segregation systems are some of the major challenges for SWM. Additionally, most of the dumpsites are being operated without following any Solid Waste Management norms and end up receiving mixed waste that causes environmental and health-related hazards leading to open-fires. It has also been reported that even after notification of the revised solid waste management in India rules and initiatives by the government, most of the states have struggled in the proper implementation of the policies/strategies. 

Solid waste management is the collection, treatment, and disposal of solid material that is thrown away because it has served its purpose or is no longer useful. Improper disposal of municipal solid waste can create unhygienic conditions, and these conditions in turn can lead to environmental pollution and vector-borne disease outbreaks, which are diseases spread by rodents and insects. Solid-waste management operations face complex technical challenges. They also present a variety of administrative, economic, and social problems that must be managed and solved. A technological approach to solid-waste management began to develop in the late 19th century. Watertight garbage cans were first introduced in the United States, and sturdier vehicles were used to collect and transport garbage. A significant development in solid waste treatment and disposal practices occurred in 1874 with the construction of the first refuse incinerator in England.

There is a need to improve the civic infrastructure to make India the leading economy in the world. Developing high-quality infrastructure that meets people's needs and protects the environment is fundamental to achieving effective economic growth. Waste management infrastructure has an important role to play in providing sustainable development. Rapid population growth in India has resulted in the depletion of natural resources. Wastes are potential resources, and effective waste management along with resource extraction are fundamental to effective SWM.

The most common and fundamental rule of waste management is the "3 R's Rule," i.e., reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reducing them should be our primary goal.

It is the responsibility of the extended producer to include all environmental costs as well as end-of-life disposal costs in the value of a product.

In addition, the "polluter pays" principle requires waste generators to pay for the proper disposal of waste.

IHR also embraces its own set of difficulties regarding the Solid Waste management practices owing to its challenging landscape and harsh environment. Due to poor connectivity and socio-economic conditions of the residents, the waste generated in the terrain areas never reaches the proper solid waste management in India facilities. As a result, waste generated is either dumped along the mountain slopes or burnt openly. The situation is worse during winters when heavy snowfall in the IHR cut-off many areas from the rest of the country. The temperature in the Himalayan region is typically cold and offers sub-zero temperature conditions at cold regions. These freezing conditions pose a technical challenge for efficient composting and sometimes may even lead to the failure of the composting process in the cold hilly regions. The improper treatment and disposal of solid waste lead to the emission of pollutants, including greenhouse gases; heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Ni, Sb, etc.); acid gases; polychlorinated biphenyls; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; and carcinogenic agents. 
Apart from the region’s inherent limitations posing a challenge to solid waste management , the IHR is also a popular tourist destination in the country. The North-Western Himalayas, in particular regions, is a major religious pilgrimage. Modern tourism is also rampant in the region, and the number of visitors is increasing year by year. The tourists serve as a floating population and add to the waste generation of waste in the IHR.

Did you know that 25% of the items in your trash could potentially be diverted from the waste stream and composted in your backyard? Your fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, grass clippings, and leaves can all be composted. While composting requires more effort than the lifestyle changes previously mentioned, it will provide you with a beneficial return on your investment of time and effort. Depending on conditions, you may have compost to use in your garden in 3 to 12 months. You'll save on fertilizers and see better yields than if you grow your own vegetables. The organic matter will also act as a sponge to absorb excess water, meaning you won't need to water your plants as much, saving you money and time.

Organic Reprocessing:– This waste management solution, better known as composting, is a win-win for you. Not only can you save money on waste treatment, but you can also make money out of it.This method involves the decomposition of organic waste until it is ready to be used as compost, which can be used to improve soil fertility.

This solution is quite accessible to everyone and usually does not require any costs. You should only have organic waste and a small area that can be your composting site. However, this requires a lot of human effort, and there is a constant risk of rodents. Composting is a green waste disposal option for some food waste and paper products. A good place to compost within your business would be the break room or cafeteria. You can buy a tight-sealing compost bin to reduce odor and keep fruit flies away. Use compostable bags so waste can be easily transferred outside to your compost pile or drop-off site.

The major challenge in waste management in colder areas  is Waste disposal management. To Resolve disposal problem We can initiate the composting process with Sadabahar composter vertical garden planter tower. The best feature of it is self fertilizing with inbuilt composter attached with planter that is available at Urban plants.