Strategic Action Plan - International Environmental Technology Centre

Strategic Action Plan Report
Chapter
1
1. Integrated Solid Waste
Management (ISWM) and its
Relevance to Pune City
1.1 Background to the Project
The growth of a city is characterized by increase in economic and developmental activities. These
activities are typically driven by the production and consumption patterns. Over the years, the economic
activities have been mapped with the manufacturing and construction activities; however the recent
advancements in the information technology sector have added a new dimension in the present times.
The boosted economies in the metropolitan areas attract people coming in search of better job
opportunities thereby contributing to the ever increasing load on existing infrastructural amenities. The
improved standard of living and extent of commercialization in the cities have significantly changed the
consumption patterns and thereby the waste composition. The inability to fully grasp the problems of
waste generation and characterization have resulted in transforming Solid Waste Management as one of
the most compelling problem of urban environmental degradation.
The solid waste quantities generated as well as its ever changing characteristics is at an alarming
proposition. The household waste contains biodegradable waste such as vegetables, leftover foods; non
biodegradable materials such as plastics, and hazardous material like used batteries; thereby rendering it to
be a complicated situation to handle. In addition to this the wastes generated from commercial
establishments and from industries add a different dimension to the waste generation scenario. The
industrial hazardous wastes if mixed into Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) create unsafe conditions.
Furthermore, the problems of bio-medical waste and the electronic waste generation lead to complicated
waste generation and management scenario. From the solid waste generation perspective, the waste
generation can be typically classified as:
• Municipal Solid Waste including Plastic waste (MSW)
• Construction and Demolition waste (C&D)
• Hazardous solid wastes
• Bio-medical waste (BMW)
• Electronic Waste (E-waste)
The heightened awareness and the governing regulatory regime have resulted in the involvement of
various agencies like government, private and non-government organizations; to undertake pilots and
ISWM Plan for Pune 1