Solutions to Waste Management

Waste Pickers

photo credit: wiego.org

I strongly feel that waste-pickers deserve some form of recognition from the waste treatment industry for their pro-environmental efforts in sorting out recyclables. Some suggestions that I think are appropriate includes giving them higher wages or hiring them for low-skilled jobs in the waste treatment industry so that they can have consistent income for their families and have improved standards of living.

The Media

The media can play apart in shaping pro-environmental behavior in the Indian citizens. Knowing how accessible and affective Bollywood movies can be to the people, it could be used as a medium for persuasion. Following the Elaboration Likelihood Model of Persuasion (Petty et al, 1986), steps such as implanting the norm of behaviours exhibiting appropriate waste disposal could be taken. Through this medium, it could be effective to communicate about the environment and the consequences of improper waste disposal because it is dynamic in its presentation.

Environmental Education 

Assuming that the government would eventually provide funding, I feel that the Municipal Solid Waste Management System could still work, however it should be revamped to cater to the understanding of Indian citizens. Following the theory of Feedback, whereby information about the past influences phenomenon in the present or future, behavioural change can be inculcated in citizens.

  1. Firstly, evidence is needed: waste behavior must be measured, captured and data stored. Waste output in residences could be measured by waste collectors
  2. Relevance: information must be relayed to individual, not in raw-data form, but in a context that makes the information resonate emotionally. Mailers could be sent to these houses highlighting the impacts of their careless waste disposal that includes the plight of slum dwellers and the toll on the environment.
  3. Consequence: information must illuminate one or more paths of proenvironmental action to take. The mailers could provide information on dry and wet waste segregation and include schedules for garbage pickups.
  4. Action: must be a clear moment when the individual can recalibrate a behavior, make a choice and act on it. The action is measured and the feedback loop can run once more, with every action stimulating new behaviors that inch the individual closer to appropriate waste management.

Examplary Waste Management Program At Community Level: Pallacham Pilot Study

There was a pilot study done on waste management that focused on turning waste into a resource for a community in a town called Pallacham. Firstly, they created awareness at the grassroots level by giving out brochures at people’s doorsteps. Next, the study offered door-to-door pickups and subsidized home biogas facilities to participants in the community.

Biogas Plants used in Pallacham Pilot Study

People participated had reasons: They did not have space for trash, and/or could not afford fuel. Some participated to support the community and scheme so that it would not fail on itself , showing a sense of community awareness and belonging.

Feedback from the community showed that people employed reported being content with collection of door-to-door organic trash in cans as they were running out of space in their backyards to burn them. However, one of the main problem lies in cost of structure, fees for delivery, technology available for distribution. (they mentioned to improve program by installing biogas cylinders). In addition to that, there was a slurry left behind by biogas.

The program turned out to be a success after it was finally supported by NGOs in the tourism industry who helped in subsidizing the cost of installing the biogas machinery in houses.

Perhaps this successful study could be used in implementing such a program in other communities. In addition to that, we learn that the tourism industry could support such an effort.