Community Participation in Municipal Waste Management: Case of Mumbai

Urbanization is increasing globally. It has its ramifications on human beings and environment. Traditional occupations in India are vanishing in rural areas. Stagnant and low paying agriculture sector, declining job opportunities in rural areas are forcing factors for migration resulting to urbanization. This has increased slum population in cities. This rapid population growth in cities has increased burden on corporations/municipalities, who are responsible to provide basic amenities to people. Urbanization directly contributes to waste generation, which adds additional financial burden on corporations/municipalities. Changing lifestyles and increase in consumerism contributes to increase in waste generation. Waste dumped on the outskirts areas creates a serious environmental and public health problem.

Effective management of Municipal Solid Waste is need of the day. Inappropriate waste collection practices and improper solid waste disposal raises the chances of local epidemics of disease, regional water resource pollution. Hence, there is a need to find concrete solutions to the disposal of waste. One of the effective ways is increasing community participation in waste management. Creation of awareness among people about reducing waste creation, reusing, recycling, improving and adopting good practices of waste collection will help to improve waste management. Preparation of manure from wet waste at housing colonies will reduce waste thrown on dumping grounds. Proper segregation of waste and training in handling waste will solve many problems.

Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) though an essential service, is given low priority. One needs to design a sustainable MSWM system to meet the future challenge.