Waste Management in Apartments
Waste management is one of the tougher challenges facing our increasing urban population.
The success and failure of waste management lies in the hands of one and all citizen. We cannot wait until the government or local authority takes an appropriate steps. It is esteem to say that there are number of association or resident volunteers not only works for the waste management of their flat or apartment but also actively involved in awareness program in their neighboring area or locality.
Tips for proper waste management
• Awareness program: Each and every person must be aware of danger of improper waste management. It is important to educate and create awareness to residents, garbage collectors and garbage contractors on proper waste management.
• Segregation: Segregation of waste is important factor to manage waste properly. First classify waste into two dry waste and wet waste. Choose two different colors for waste bin like red and green. If you choose red and green, put dry waste in red bin which mainly consists Cartons, packets etc. Another bin green must be used to put wet waste such as dump vegetable and fruit peels or leftover foods, coffee and tea waste, garden waste and dry leaves.
• Volunteer: If you are living in apartment, you can have a discussion with your association members and conduct a meeting to educate and explain them. You can even conduct an awareness program in your area or locality.
• Disposal of waste: You can segregate waste into dry wastes and wet wastes. Wet waste are domestic waste which can be used to convert manure, dig a compost pit in your backyard to convert them into manure or you can handover them to garbage collectors in your locality. Dry waste can be given along with your newspaper waste once in a month and wastes like plastic bags, bottles, cans can be recycled. It is better to reduce waste as more the waste are more they need to be disposed.
• Avoidance and Reduction method: It is one of the effective method to control waste and mange them. It includes methods of reducing waste and avoids further wastage. Some of the methods used in avoidance and reduction are reusing of second hand products and repairing things than buying a new one.
• Participation of one and all: The success of waste management needs co-operation of one and all. Whether you are residents, shopkeeper, owner of hotel or restaurant, student, professor or any vocation all of them need to work together for effective waste management.
Reason for failure
There are number of factors that affect in proper waste management. Some of the limitation or constraints for failure of waste management are following:
Lack of volunteer: Lack of volunteers or shortage of volunteer is one of the main constraints for the failure. There should be at least one member for one street or for an apartment. Each person has to know the danger of improper waste management and must voluntarily participate in helping to manage waste properly.
Change in housemaid: Change in housemaid is another thing which leads to improper waste management. The newly appointed housemaid has to be train how to segregate waste into dry and wet wastes.
Change in garbage collector: Similar to change in housemaid, change in garbage collector is also another reason. Some garbage collectors in an area will have to change the area or leave their job for some reasons. New garbage collector may not be aware of proper segregation of waste
Importance of segregation
Segregation of waste helps to save money, time and energy. Segregating waste into dry and wet helps to dispose wet or organic waste easily. Mixing waste not only cause problem for disposal but also cause health problems. For better health segregation of waste is recommended. The more cities develop more the waste is generating and it is needed to dispose systematically.
3 R’s for solid waste
For effective control of solid waste 3 R’s are associated- Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle. Reduce waste means try to avoid generating of wastes. For example if you buy things from market, try to avoid plastic carry bag and all these carry bag ends into waste. Use cloth bag or paper bag for your shopping.
Re-use is using of material again and again. We can use some material again instead of buying a new one. Normally old papers and plastic are re-used and this helps in reduction of waste.
Recycle is the processing used material into new one to reduce consumption of fresh material and prevent wastage of materials. For recycle of materials it needed to be collected and sorted or grouped to category for recycling. Some plants are setup with modern techniques which can automatically sort the materials.
Our Responsibility
It is not possible for proper waste management without co-operation one and all citizens in Bangalore. We need not required to do any big task only we have to segregate waste into dry and wet and handover them to garbage collector separately. You can also create awareness to your neighbors, garbage collectors and garbage contractors. Government can also introduce some schemes like two separate waste vehicles for waste collection, one for dry waste and other for wet waste. Residents in apartments can bring the matter in association meeting and conduct an awareness program. Co-operation can present a big difference in this mater. Remember to reduce generating waste and segregate the waste systematically. Segregation of waste is not a new thing but it is ignored by most. Together we work and manage waste properly.
