Dr. Chetana Makade, Dr. Sachin Makade
“A city grows not only by what it builds, but by what it chooses to discard.”
Dr. Sachin Makade
President, ISA NCB – 2025-26
MD (Anaesthesiology)
Senior Consultant Anaesthesiologist
Seven Star Hospital, Nagpur
Rahate Surgical Hospital, Nagpur
Introduction
“Manual Scavenging Still Continues Across Maha: Safai Panel Chief Admits After Butibori Deaths” recently this headline of Times of India of Nagpur city stuck the cord of many responsible citizens forcing to go to the roots of this cause as the workers were forced to scavenge the blocked drainage systems.
India is witnessing the formation of most densely populated megacities where management of wastes, both municipal solid waste (MSW) and industrial hazardous waste (IHW), has become a very critical issue. According to recent reports from research MSW generation per capita is increasing in all the top 10 populated cities of the country. In terms of growth of MSW generation, the city Surat and Delhi grew alarmingly at the rate of 2172% and 1036%, respectively, during the period 1971 to 2015.
Urbanization is often regarded as a hallmark of development. Modern urban cities are lucrative for its glittering buildings, composite job opportunities for aspiring youths, industrialization symbolizing economic progress. In addition, cities provide excellent access to standard educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and enhance overall standards of living. According to global demographic trends, urban populations continue to rise steadily, creating megacities with millions of inhabitants increased consumption of packaged foods, disposable products, plastic materials, electronic gadgets, construction materials, and household waste contributing significantly to rising waste generation.
Challenges of urbanization
The exponential expansion of boundaries of cities have transformed them to a hub of dark reality of crisis of waste management resulting in overflowing landfills, polluted waterbodies, blocked drainage systems, contaminated groundwater, toxic air, posing risk to public health. If the issue not addressed timely this progress of environmental emergency is posing threat to all living beings.
Global demograhic trends reports it to be a vicious cycle following population growth in urban cities which has increased varied waste generation owing to inadequate disposal systems. Municipal corporations often struggle with insufficient waste collection systems, inadequate landfill capacity, weak recycling mechanisms, and poor public awareness. Consequently, garbage accumulates in streets, open spaces, water bodies, and informal dumping grounds.
Types of Waste in Urban cities
1.Domestic waste consisting(food scraps, paper, plastics, glass, textiles, packaging materials, and domestic refuse)
2.Plastic waste
3.Electronic Waste (E-Waste smartphones, computers, batteries, and appliances become obsolete rapidly, generating toxic waste containing mercury, cadmium, and lead)
4. Biomedical Waste
Anesthetic procedures contribute 25% of operation theatre waste.Hospitals and healthcare institutions generate infectious and hazardous waste that requires specialized disposal methods. Inhalational anaesthetics(IA) account for approximately 3% of hospital greenhouse gas emissions. Halogenated IAs and nitrous oxide contribute to the greenhouse effect and the depletion of the ozone layer. The atmospheric half-life of IAs ranges from 1 to 14 years, except for nitrous oxide, which has an atmospheric half-life of 114 years hence having more global warming potential.
5. Construction and Demolition Debris
Buildings, roads, and infrastructure projects produce massive quantities of debris that are frequently dumped irresponsibly.
6. Sewage and Liquid Waste
Inadequate sanitation systems lead to untreated wastewater entering rivers and lakes, contaminating urban ecosystems and threatening safe drinking water supplies.
Environmental consequences contributing global warming
1.Air Pollution and Toxic Emissions of gases like carbon monoxide, dioxins, and particulate matter into the atmosphere. Landfills release even more disastrous methane gas which can lead to respiratory illnesses, reduced air quality, and contribute to global warming.
2.Water Pollution and Urban Flooding: Improper disposals of plastics clogs drainage systems posing risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.
Additionally, landfills leaches contaminated liquid and pollutes groundwater, affecting drinking water quality and public safety.
3.Soil Contamination
Toxic industrial and electronic waste releases pollutes soil, damaging fertility and disrupting ecosystems. Over time, contaminated soil can affect agricultural productivity and food security.
4.Publick health risk:
The decomposed garbage acts as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, rodents causes diseases like dengue, malaria, gastrointestinal infections, and respiratory disorders.
Waste pickers, despite playing a crucial role in recycling, frequently work without safety measures or adequate social recognition.
These polluted hubs negatively affects emotional well-being, dignity, and quality of life.
Urbanization without proper waste planning creates a dangerous imbalance between development and sustainability. Thus the challenge is not the absence of solutions but the lack of effective implementation and collective responsibility.
Role model Indian Cities Leading the Way in Waste Management
Several Indian cities have emerged as inspiring examples of sustainable waste governance through meticulous planning, public participation, and strong civic administration. In this regard Indore in Madhya Pradesh tops for its exceptional waste management and often awarded as cleanest city of India for its strict door-to-door waste collection, segregation at source, GPS-monitored garbage transportation, and scientific disposal methods.The greatest strength for this achievement is its citizens geniuenly cooperating in waste segregation, while municipal authorities maintain rigorous monitoring systems. Organic waste is converted into compost and biogas, minimizing landfill dependency and has transform urban sanitation.
Another trendsetter is Mysuru: A Pioneer in segregation at the household level which has reduced the burden on centralized landfills and promotes composting, recycling, and citizen awareness programs while ensuring efficient municipal collection systems.
“Ambikapur” often known for its “Zero-Waste Model” offers one of the most remarkable examples of decentralized waste management in India. The city particularly women self help groups successfully eliminated large dumping grounds through efficient segregation and recycling.
Pune in Maharashtra has introduced an innovative model by integrating waste pickers into formal waste collection systems often called as “Integrating Informal Waste Workers”. Waste worker cooperatives have helped improve recycling efficiency while creating sustainable livelihoods.
Panaji has adopted decentralized waste treatment systems and segregation measures to handle the waste burden associated with tourism management emphasizes on local composting units and sustainable waste processing, preventing excessive landfill accumulation.
These legendary examples of our cities irrespective of their size reflect that success in waste management do not rely solely rely on technology or policy but a amalgamation of team work of governing authorities and team of citizens bearing culture of sensible responsibility. We should be solution seekers for creating sustainable and breathable cities, waste management must shift from reactive disposal to proactive prevention. The responsible practices of reduce, reuse, recycle in every aspects enable the realistic change. In this contemporary era of technology smart bins, sensor-enabled monitoring, and data-based collection systems improve efficiency. Reducing food waste, adapting biodegradable policies and Transforming use and dispose policies can be revolutionary step.
Conclusion: Expert estimate suggests that by 2050 more than two-thirds of the world’s population would live in megacities. e World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 250,000 deaths related to climate change will occur each year in the coming decades. It seems to be a grave issue when one considers that India is expecting the most significant increase in the urban population in the next four decades, followed by China. India will add further 416 million, highest in the world, to its urban population between 2018 and 2050 (UNDESA Citation2018).“A city that cannot manage its waste eventually loses the ability to sustain its people”. Cities represent development of humanity’s future. Their growth doesn’t merely lie in its population but the quality of environment through its resident’s using sustainable measures of reduce, reuse and recycle. This is the return gift we can give to nature for our future offsprings.
