By Wanshan B. Khardewsaw
“A mob is a monster, with heads enough, but no heart, and little brains” – Cardinal de Retz
No particular area or locality is an isolated entity. Though we are unique in our ways, we are all irreplaceable parts of this proud city. Each of us is part of this small but intricate community, which we are proud of. However, authentic and justified pride places demands on us, in discovering and comprehending our fundamental relations to one another and zestfully performing our duties, to maintain a healthy living atmosphere.
A healthy environment is the most crucial aspect of healthy living. To have a healthy living atmosphere, efficient management of waste materials becomes an urgent and seriously weighty issue. Waste management is one of the most crucial aspects of any society, especially for an expanding city like ours, otherwise we will end up becoming one big slum. What we are seeing today insofar as waste management is concerned tells us that we are heading towards that direction.
What happened in Shillong last month is something that we should not take for granted. Whether or not one endorses the idea of preventing the normal dumping of garbage at Marten, the fact is, it once again awakened us to the harsh reality that the Shillong Municipal Board seriously needs a healthier, cleaner, better managed and spacious dumping ground at a considerable distance from human settlement, as is being articulated by the people of Mawlai.
If the dumping ground for garbage is relocated and redone in a scientific and environment- friendly manner, we would inevitably require gargantuan amount of financial resources. Perfect channelisation and utilisation of both monetary and mandatory responsibilities would, as always, be a matter of great concern to both the public and policy makers. We urgently need a clean, clear and justified delegation of both works and monetary involvement amongst the multiple bodies and stakeholders in the system. This should be responsibly accepted and seriously attempted by all.
Waste generation per capita has increased manifold all over the state and is expected to increase exponentially with the growing population, wealth, and consumerism, especially in Shillong. Approaches to solving this waste problem in a scalable and sustainable manner should lead us to a model that uses waste as inputs in production of commodities whose value is monetised, thereby making waste management a true profit center. The conversion of waste as a potential source of energy also has to be seriously looked at. This might perhaps help ease the present power crisis that we have been experiencing of late. It must be noted that varieties of new technologies are being used and developed for the production of bio-fuels which are capable of converting waste into heat, power, fuels or chemical feedstock.
Waste management is a growing issue across the globe and is directly connected to industrial and population growth. Though there are several advancements that have taken place in recent times regarding waste management, yet it is considered to be an overall public safety and environmental health issue that countries across the world are concerned about.
Solid waste management, as we all know can be useful in more ways than one. But our attention on the subject would be on the monetary aspects of waste management. I hope the majority would agree if we say that as long as money is not involved, the people of this state and the people of India will not be involved’. For this matter, it would not be wrong to suggest that monetary returns and benefits should be involved in trying to solve the problem of waste management and pollution in the country!!
Imagine the day when we would all be paid for the waste we collect and dump properly and accordingly. As funny and irrational as it might seem, it is also equally interesting and worth the imagination and pondering that it might take. Though feasible, the idea however requires introduction of modern technology to make use of wastes and garbage as inputs for further production, other than landfill. If waste were to be weighed and paid, I believe that the present situation in Shillong and its neighbourhood would be reversed completely, insofar as waste and garbage disposal is concerned. The latest picture of Shillong, as a garbage city where wastes and garbage is being seen and thrown everywhere would be deleted and we would all be proud again to be called citizens of this hill station.
This, if made possible would lead to a situation where every plastic or waste thrown, would be collected and removed fast and quick. It would mean that every plastic, can or bottle flowing along Wah Umkhrah and Umshyrpi would be picked up and collected by one and all. If a monetary value is attached to waste and garbage no one would even think about throwing it on the road or on the river. Garbage would be then nicely and neatly kept to be disposed off profitably and valuably.
Just like any other city in India, Shillong has also witnessed the massive switch from paper and glass to plastic for many containers and packaging applications. Plastics have become an increasingly prominent material used in the manufacture of all sorts of durable and non?durable goods as well as packaging within industrial, commercial and consumer applications. Along with this, comes the exponential increase of plastics in the waste stream. All plastic materials should be recycled, in as many ways and methods as is possible, as it provides a suitable environment for the future. And hopefully and possibly higher prices can be offered for plastics, as compared to paper and any other waste material, considering the fact that they are more harmful to the environment, and are almost non-degradable. In the same manner all waste materials should be tagged with a price based on their recyclability and hazardousness.
Reusable waste items should be washed and cleaned, and kept in any pre-assigned location, where people can visit and choose or select any item that might seem useful to them, and maybe pay a minimum price for every item that they might select. This will definitely go a long way in reducing the exploitation of raw materials, in controlling pollution and in reducing energy needs etc. Waste management would then serve more than one purpose, as it will also save both energy and money which are required to use in manufacturing fresh new products.
“Simple problems beget simple solution, complex problems beget complex solution.”