Solid waste management

Rapid urbanization presents enormous solid waste management problems. The generation of waste is often linked to income level and lifestyles. The lack of solid waste management leads to water, land and air pollution, putting people and the environment at risk. A particular health concern is that hospital waste, which is very infectious and hazardous, is often dumped with general waste in landfill sites. Scavengers looking for recyclable items are exposed to infection and other hazards.

Solid waste generated in Asian cities ranges from 0.2-1.7 kg/capita/day. Biodegradable wastes dominates the bulk of municipal solid waste, followed by plastics, paper, metals and other material. Electronic waste is emerging as a new and significant waste stream, especially in urban areas. Mobile phones are one of the main items of "e-waste". Toxic link estimated that about 35 million phones are discarded in India every year. There is an urgent need to find ways of disposing of these wastes in a safe and environment friendly manner.