Solid wastes refer to everything that goes out in trash.
Municipal solid wastes are wastes from homes, offices, stores, schools, hospitals, etc., that are collected and disposed of by the municipality.
The municipal solid wastes generally comprise paper, food wastes, plastics, glass, metals, rubber, leather, textile, etc.
Burning reduces the volume of the wastes, although it is generally not burnt to completion and open dumps often serve as the breeding ground for rats and flies.
Sanitary landfills were adopted as the substitute for open-burning dumps.
In a sanitary landfill, wastes are dumped in a depression or trench after compaction, and covered with dirt everyday.
Landfills are also not really much of a solution since the amount of garbage generation especially in the metros has increased so much that these sites are getting filled too.
Also there is danger of seepage of chemicals, etc., from these landfills polluting the underground water resources.
All waste that we generate can be categorised into three types – biodegradable, recyclable and the non-biodegradable.
It is important that all garbage generated is sorted. What can be reused or recycled separated out; our kabadiwalas and rag-pickers do a great job of separation of materials for recycling.
The biodegradable materials can be put into deep pits in the ground and be left for natural breakdown.
That leaves only the non-biodegradable to be disposed of.
The need to reduce our garbage generation should be a prime goal, instead, we are increasing the use of non-biodegradable products.
State Governments across the country are trying to push for reduction in use of plastics and use of eco-friendly packaging.