The World Bank estimated and expected that waste generation may increase by 73 per cent from 2020 levels to 3.88 billion tonnes in 2050. This is the problem faced by almost all countries in the world. The Global Waste Index of 2022, ranked the United States as the most waste per capita and Colombia as the least at 243 kg per capita. Few major landfills are: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch also known as Pacific Trash Vortex where 9 million tonnes of trash enter the ocean in a year, covering 16,00,000 square km.
The floating plastic degrades under the sun into tinier pieces. The process is known as Photodegradation and is a threat to marine life. In the Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla landfills of Delhi, these mountains of trash are piling up, ranging from 180 to 213 feet high and locals named them “Everest.” The Indian government recently made efforts to reduce the height of Okhla landfill from 180 to 124 feet. Deonar landfill in the suburb of Mumbai is 114 feet high. Back in 2012, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai had to seek permission from the Airports Authority of India to increase the height of the dump to 164 feet.
In Mumbai and Delhi, waste management has already kicked off and is expected to be completed by 2024-25. But the only drawbacks are the harmful gases and the ash that is left over. However, Singapore was able to overcome these problems. Where the waste is generated, recyclables are sorted and retrieved for processing to conserved resources, the remaining waste is collected and sent to waste-to-energy plants for incineration, and the heat is recovered to produce steam that propel turbine-generators to generate electricity, the smoke is filtered and clean air is released to the atmosphere. The fly ash is transported to the Tuas Marine Transfer Station and barged to Semakau landfill to repurpose the ash for something that is useful for construction materials.
As recommended by the Tripartite Cluster for Waste and Management, an entry-level waste management worker can expect to draw a minimum gross salary of Singapore $3,260 a month by 2028. The current level is S$.2,210 (approx). This revised wage framework was set to take effect progressively from July 2023. (1S$ = Rs. 61.62) The Semakau Island attracts tourists from all over the world. Visitors might expect foul odours and swarms of flies, but instead they are greeted with stunning views of blue waters, lush greenery, and wildlife. It was a change from a garbage landfill to a tourist spot.
In the late 20th century, the mafia families in New York City were heavily involved in this lucrative business. However, in the 1990s, a massive investigation was launched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other law enforcement agencies. In October 200, a unit known as “Operation Green Quest” was formed and uncovered extensive corruption in the garbage disposal industry. They collected money and trash, and simply buried them in isolated places. Workers were not paid well. They killed anyone who entered in this business or bombed their trucks. The investigation resulted in the arrest of the mafia families including the infamous Gambino, Genovese and Lucchese families.
The same happened in Italy. The mafia contaminated the farmland around Naples. The authorities found decades of toxic waste dumping by the Camorra crime syndicate had poisoned the wells. A top Camorra boss, Francesco Bidognetti, was convicted and received a 20 years sentence. This smelly business is a clean business, the mafias collected white money from the public, hotels, restaurants, etc and the rate is not the same, depending on the weight and types of trash. Mafia’s black money can be mixed with white money.
When it comes to converting trash to treasure, Sweden has set a remarkable benchmark in waste management by leveraging incineration technology to convert waste into energy, with an astonishing 99 per cent waste-to-energy rate. The energy generated not only powers homes, but also fuels vehicles and industries. Sweden has a stringent waste management policy. It imports trash from other countries generating 100 million USD annually.
What about our Marten Landfill? To set up an eco-friendly waste management plant will cost Rs. 100-100s crore. But the government must act quickly on ground and it is not necessary to visit Sweden, Singapore, etc. It will not work, but only empty our poor State’s exchequer. In India we have multiple Central Sector Schemes (100 per cent funded by the Central government) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (North Eastern States usually must sponsor only 10 per cent). Handling of sewage and solid waste is covered in the 11th and 12th Schedules of the Constitution of India. Therefore, it is the constitutional responsibility of the State and local municipal bodies to provide a pollution-free environment to the people, and to ensure the right to life.
What is worrisome is that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) might slap a heavy fine on the State any time. We still remember that sad Ksan tragedy of December 2018 where coal miners were trapped inside the dark world of a rat hole for many days. The rescue operation which was suspended after over 75 days (December 13, 2018 – March 2, 2019), was one of the longest rescue efforts in the country, and it could be the costliest operation. The administration had to seek the assistance teams from Coal India, Kirloskar Brothers, Odisha Fire Services team, the Indian Air Force, and the Indian Navy, etc to join the operation to rescue the miners. Only the Indian Army was left out of the rescue operations.
We also remember the Rs. 100 crore slapped by the National Green Tribunal on our State. The amount is calculated, based on the “Polluter Pays Principle” i.e. (EC=PI x N x R x S x LF) and Rs. 2 crore per million litres per day (MLD) and Rs. 300 per tonnes for unprocessed legacy waste. We also remember that the NGT slapped Rs.109 crore on Meghalaya, when it was reported that poison was flowing in Shillong’s rivers, but later refrained from levying environmental compensation when the State prayed before the NGT vide Original Application No.192 of 2022. Thank you, we saved our taxes.
As far as the major NGT fines is concerned, Tamil Nadu faced the highest of Rs.15,419 crore, Maharashtra Rs.12,000 crore, Madhya Pradesh Rs. 9,688 crore, Uttar Pradesh Rs. 5,000 crore, Bihar Rs. 4,000 crore, Telangana Rs. 3,800 crore, West Bengal Rs. 3,500 crore, Karnataka Rs. 3,400 crore, Delhi Rs. 3,132 crore, Rajasthan Rs.3,000 crore.
On December 21, 2023, the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change replied to an unstarred question No.2129 and submitted a State/UT-wise annexure (as on 18th May 2023) the amount imposed as per direction/undertaking on states and union territories for non-compliance of municipal waste management rules and other environmental violations. The total amount is Rs.79,098 crore. Each one is responsible. We cannot blame the government alone. Those of us who are polluting the environment must also pay. The ‘polluter pay’ principle is a fair principle. Thrash the trash.
