A solution for Waste recycling in Gurgaon

Mountains of Waste

The massive quantities of waste that we are generating are filling up our landfills and contaminating our water sources at a great speed. If people keep mixing their recyclable, organic, hazardous and sanitary waste in the same bin, the Municipal Corporations will collect the waste and dump it in a landfill.

One example of such a landfill is the Bandhwari landfill, which receives almost 2,000 tons of solid waste every day, from Gurgaon (Gurugram) and Faridabad. According to this report from NDTV, “The Bandhwari landfill is estimated to have about 35 lakh tonnes of untreated, mixed waste that has accumulated over 12 years. It is affecting wildlife, soil, water and humans all around it.

The landfill was established on an abandoned 250 feet deep mining pit which is very close to the groundwater aquifer. The site is also close to the last remaining patch of native Aravalli forest, a sacred grove for locals.

Underground water and water sources around the area have also been contaminated due to the toxic leachates released from landfills. In, 2019, the National Green Tribunal observed, “It is clear that damage to the environment is taking place by contamination of groundwater on account of leachate discharge.”

The air has also not been spared.

“Earlier, the air in this area was clean and there was no pollution. Since this dumping yard has come up here, we are facing a lot of problems. It is difficult to breathe when the wind blows because it brings a very foul odour with it. Many people are falling ill here,” said 40-year-old Rajkumar, who lives in Bandhwari village.

This article succinctly summarizes the 10 environmental hazards caused due to our waste.

The importance of Recycling

The only way we can prevent these mountains of waste from increasing further is by

• Not consuming things which create waste
• Reducing the amount of waste we generate
• Segregating the waste generated, so that it can be recycled

The following diagram succinctly describes the options available to us, prioritizing those options which are most beneficial to the environment.

Recycling is a unique activity that provides several environmental, social & economic benefits at the same time. Thus, recycling can be an important pillar of a sustainable society.

Recycling has been shown to provide the following benefits:

1. Recycling reduces waste sent to landfills and incinerators.
2. Recycling prevents pollution.
3. Recycling conserves natural resources and prevents ecosystem destruction
4. Recycling conserves energy.
5. Recycling creates jobs while producing economic benefits.

It is a proven fact that economic development is associated with the generation of higher and higher amounts of waste. Hence, recycling should form a crucial part of our environmental strategy. Here are just a few numbers that illustrate the importance of recycling.

Types of Trash – Waste Segregation

The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) recommends that we segregate the following types of waste:

Waste segregation is separating trash into biodegradable, recyclable and non-recyclable groups.

Biodegradable wastes are those that can be broken down easily by bacteria. Also known as Wet waste, it typically refers to organic waste generated in every kitchen/restaurant, like fruit and vegetable peels etc.

Recyclable materials are those that can be reused like paper, glass and metal. They include Dry waste like used newspapers and magazines, cartons, metal products and glass bottles etc. Some types of plastics can also be recycled.

Plastic is a particularly pernicious material, which causes long-term harm, if not disposed of properly.

Even plastic recycling is not a completely efficient process. Therefore, the best way to eliminate the hazard of plastics is to reduce or eliminate their usage.

Sanitary & Hazardous wastes like sanitary napkins, diapers, medicines, razor blades, syringes, Styrofoam etc. should be separated from all other types of waste, and discarded appropriately.

It is important to segregate Waste because unsegregated waste is almost impossible to recycle. Effective segregation of wastes means that less waste goes to landfills, and hence supports the environment. It is also important to segregate for public health and hygienic reasons.

A solution to Waste: Samadhaan Hub, Gurgaon

Samadhaan Hub at Sector 43, Gurgaon has a smart setup for waste segregation and has been developed by the NGO ‘I Am Gurgaon’ and the Gurgaon civic body. You can get more information about  ‘I am Gurgaon’, from their website or FB page.

Samadhaan Hub has different Waste Bins for different types of trash, including different types of plastics, metals, paper & E-waste. Samadhaan Hub offers a solution for residents of Gurgaon to safely dispose off their trash, and prevent it from ending up in landfills.

You can take a sneak peek at the Samadhaan Hub here.

 There are various recycling companies that pick up this segregated waste and recycle them.

#wastemanagement #wastesegregation

Samadhaan Hub also has a collection centre operated by Goonj, where you can donate the following items, which are in usable condition:

• Clothes
• Woollens
• Blankets
• Dry ration
• School material
• Toys
• Utensils
• Spectacles
• Usable electronic devices (mobiles, laptops, computers)

 We hope that more people become aware of this unique facility, which can help us reduce our burden on Mother Earth, even by a small amount.