Environment protection has been keen agenda of every consecutive government. However, unfortunately waste management, being an integral part of environment protection is not given equal weightage considering the situation of municipal dumps at road sides. It is the general public that is to be blamed, more than the Government. Even many times, when a common citizen complaints at the Municipality, they refuse to register the complaint.
Out of all types of wastes, bio-medical waste and plastic waste is most dangerous. Other biodegradable waste such as food or vegetable peels give back to environment any way but the former two do not degrade on their own.
Bio-medical waste includes used syringes, glucose bottles, other materials used during treatment of humans and animals. It is mainly disposed by hospitals and they have to follow very strict guidelines for their disposal provided they follow the rules in letter and spirit. On the other hand, plastic waste is generated in every household, by almost every citizen. It includes, amongst other things, used water bottles, plastic bags, polythene bags and synthetic plastic products. It is a good news that disposed water bottles are now being used by textile industry aggressively to make polyester clothes, however it is not sufficient to save the planet Earth from this menace.
 ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ was launched way back in 2014 which further paved way for Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The new rules mandated every waste producer to segregate waste on the basis of re-usage and recycling, waste to energy and waste to oil generation, polluters-pay principle (wherein producers, importers and brand-owners dealing with plastic carry bags were required to pay a certain amount as fee) etc. This fee amount is used for measures of Environment Protection.
It is the responsibility of every user to dispose off the waste in proper manner. Often people also avoid giving the waste to waste collectors in order to save a nominal amount of charge. However, they are hardly aware that this waste has long-term effects so it will be ultimately harmful for them. Hence, stricter measures and sensitization is the key.
