Dear Readers,
To burn or not to burn seems to be the most important issue at the moment for all those concerned with Municipal Solid Waste in India. The management of urban waste is increasingly becoming a nightmare for the municipal bodies. In this issue of the Toxics Alert e-newsletter we have attempted to capture this debate both in theory, through a feature and an interview, and in practice, through news on a gathering momentum towards re-establishing the concept of waste-to-energy by municipal authorities in India's most important urban centres.
Editor, Toxics Alert
Toxics Alert, an environment news bulletin from toxics link
Issue 4: March 12, 2007
FEATURE
Waste-to-energy is no quick fix for Municipal Solid Waste Management
The mismanagement of solid waste in urban areas poses a grave threat to public health and the quality of life of people living in those areas. Up to now there has been no comprehensive policy in India that deals with the whole cycle of waste management from production at household level to collection and disposal, writes Prashant Pastore, Senior Programme Coordinator, Toxics Link.
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INTERVIEW
Solution is urgently needed for rapid reduction in municipal waste: Urvashi Dhamija
Despite the failure of incineration-based projects in Hyderabad, Lucknow and Delhi, it seems to me that a proposal to set up such a project in Delhi should not be dismissed imperatively. With waste stacking up at the existing sites at levels higher than high rise buildings in the vicinity a solution is urgently needed for rapid waste reduction. However, reasons for the failure need to be identified and suitable steps taken to prevent their re-occurrence, says Prof. Urvashi Dhamija in conversation with Parvinder Singh.
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NEWS
Delhi worst in managing its trash; MCD says not enough dumping space
A recent survey by an industry grouping has claimed that though the National Capital has the largest number of people engaged in the recycling of urban or municipal waste compared to all other metros, yet it is the worst in managing its trash and figures below Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
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Mumbai going waste to energy way: BMC
In a bid to counter the growing problem of municipal waste management in Mumbai and its inability to address this, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will float a tender seeking expression of interest by private firms for generating energy from waste.
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Kolkata's second landfill being planned on Ramsar Site
The city of joy, Kolkata, is peaking a productivity figure that it isn't quite ready to handle. The city is generating 3,000 metric tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste and its only landfill, Dhapa, is overflowing.This has forced Kolkata Municipal Corporation\u2019s (KMC) to look for a second site and if one goes by local news reports, the planned new site would encroach on a wetland listed under Ramsar Convention.
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Mumbai generating 19,000 tonnes of e-waste annually: Study
In a grim reminder of the increasing environmental and health hazards in India's urban centres, a new study has revealed that Mumbai is not just the leading generator of electronic waste in the country, but also that the rate at which the commercial capital is throwing away electronic goods is far higher than believed so far.
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Half of world's wetlands lost already: Experts
A half-day workshop was organised in the National Capital's National Science Centre to observe the World Wetland Day on 2 February by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and The Energy Research Institute for highlighting their ecological importance, the threat they face today and ways to protect them.
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POLICY
Climate change expert committee to be formed: Finance Minister
India will set up an expert committee to study the impact of climate change on the country, even though it does not significantly contribute to green house gas (GHG) emissions, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said in his budget speech in parliament, according to an official release.
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UPDATES
Two-day workshop on medical, municipal waste held in Ranchi
In continuation with its efforts to generate awareness and share knowledge on the issue of medical and municipal waste management, Toxics Link, in association with Rachi-based Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK), recently organised a two-day regional workshop in the Jharkhand capital.
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PARTNERS
NGO recommendations on planned DMRC-link through Delhi Ridge
Delhi-based Environmentalists spurred into action last month following reports of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) planning a segment of Mehrauli to Gurgaon line that would cut-through the Delhi-ridge forest area, believed to be one of the oldest geographical entities in the world.
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