Household Waste Management and Environment Protection – Residents’ Contribution

Abstract

Waste management is a massive challenge across the globe. Waste is one of the results of residential, commercial and industrial activities. Household waste is the waste generated from day-to-day activities of the households. It is as an important element of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). It plays very crucial role, but at the same time it is very much neglected element of human life which directly impacts our environment. Even after 77 years of independence in India, waste management has emerged as a huge challenge. At present in cities, not only waste has increased in quantity but the characteristics of waste have changed tremendously with changing consumption patterns and it is imposing pressure on waste management authorities. The purpose of this study was to study kitchen / biodegradable waste disposal methods adopted by residents of Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC), to ascertain the residents’ behavior towards household waste management and environment protection and to understand ideas of residents on environment friendly household waste management systems or practices to be adopted by residents to solve the issues of household waste management and to protect environment. A quantitative method was adopted for study. Data was collected through structured questionnaire from residents of PMC by convenient sampling method. The study concluded that behavior of residents from PMC do not contribute significantly to the effective household waste management and environment protection. There is urgent need of strict implementation of Municipal Solid Waste Management Act, 2016 by PMC. Also, there is a need of rigorous awareness programs about ill effects of improper HWM and promotion of sustainable consumption patterns to be adopted by residents of PMC. A disciplined, knowledge driven behavior of residents towards household waste management leads to segregation of household waste at source point; which acts as a major achievement to waste management authorities for further resourceful and smooth disposal of household waste. It automatically contributes in protecting environment, human health and biodiversity.