Most countries like Canada, the USA, UK all have waste segregation at the source that is at each and every household. Developing countries are still lagging behind in spreading awareness amongst the public and improving waste management. However, recently, in 2016, India joined one of those countries that have implemented waste segregation at the source that is within our homes.
Why is segregating waste in our homes important?
The answer varies depending upon where in the world you are. Let’s take two countries, Canada and India. In Canada, depending upon the region you are in the waste goes to either a landfill, Incineration plant, Recycling facility and/or Composting facility. Also, different wastes have different schedules in a week for collection. So segregating waste at home makes it easier, energy and cost efficient to dispose of it. It also makes sure that the waste goes to the right facilities and does not disrupt the treatment processes. For example, if plastics end up in compost waste, it will contaminate the compost and will result in fertilizers mixed with plastics or if you add non-recyclable waste in recyclables, it will add more work at recycling facilities to remove this contaminant and send it back to the right waste management site adding to more greenhouse gases through transport. Therefore, it is important to ensure waste is segregated in our homes.
In a country like India, where waste segregation is fairly new and waste is also collected everyday, the reasons might look different but the ultimate goal is to manage waste in an environmentally responsible manner. But always remember folks reduce and reuse should always be top on your list!
In India, most of the waste ends up in dumpsites. The so called landfills in most locations are not engineered landfills so there are issues such as animals feeding off and spreading the waste, diseases, contamination of groundwater, using up limited lands and odor. There have also been reports of child labor being used to manually separate waste in these open landfills without any protection, to get recyclables out. India is also trying to implement more recycling, Waste to Energy technology and waste diversion, therefore, to support the countries efforts, citizens have the responsibility to do something as small but important as waste segregation.
So, think about it how one small step of you putting the waste in the right bin in your kitchen, washing the containers of food and reducing your consumption can save a child, reduce greenhouse gases and save precious limited space that would otherwise be taken up by landfills!
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