Open Access Research Article
UNRAVELING THE NEXUS: THE IMPACT OF WASTE MANAGEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE - AN EMPIRICAL STUDY
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Article Details
UNRAVELING
THE NEXUS: THE IMPACT OF WASTE MANAGEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE - AN EMPIRICAL
STUDY
AUTHORED
BY - MRS. BLESSIE AHINO J,
Assistant
Professor of Law,
School
of Excellence in Law, TNDALU.
CO-AUTHOR
- S. RAMANA SUBRAMANIAN
Student,
IV B.Com, LL.B (Hons),
School
of Excellence in Law, TNDALU.
ABSTRACT
Climate change is the significant
increase in global average temperature over the last century. This is evident
in the current times often manifested through changes in patterns of rainfall
resulting in floods or draughts and extreme temperatures. When the need to
address this issue is deliberated, the focal point always discussed is reducing
carbon footprint. Lowering the amount of greenhouse gases such as carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide or hydrofluorocarbons released into the
atmosphere paves the way to heal and mitigate environmental degradation and its
repercussions. Apart from industrial and vehicular emissions, a major contributor
to carbon emissions is waste. Regulating
and managing waste is an integral factor in ensuring a clean and healthy
environment and pollution of the environment can be attributed in part to
improper waste management. Waste management encompasses the tasks and
procedures required to handle garbage from its creation to its disposal
including domestic organic wastes and inorganic waste. This entails supervision
and control in addition to garbage collection, transportation, processing, and
removal. According to India's Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016, managing
solid waste is a mandatory duty of civic local bodies and municipalities. With
Chennai the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu ranking 199th among
446 cities surveyed under the Swachh Survekshan, the battle to improve waste
management is still on the go. This paper will highlight the importance of
domestic waste management and its significance in contributing to climate
change by empirically analysing the implementation of waste management rules in
Chennai city.
Keywords: Climate
Change, Greenhouse Gases, Environment Protection, Solid Waste Management and Waste
Management.
Intersection of Climate Change and Waste Management
Climate change
refers to significant and lasting changes in the Earth's climate patterns over
an extended period of time, typically decades to millions of years. The long-term, cumulative effects of
variations in Earth's position to the Sun, according to Serbian scientist
Milutin Milankovitch, are thought to be a major factor in determining Earth's
long-term climate that initiates and terminates glacial eras (Ice Ages).[1] In
particular, three different kinds of Earth orbital movements impact the amount
and location of solar radiation, or insolation, that reaches the top of the
planet's atmosphere. The shape of the Earth’s orbit, the Earth’s orbital plane
and the direction of Earth’s axis of rotation play a vital role in changing
Earth’s long-term climate change. This theory also known as the Milankovitch
theory states that climate change is evident and will happen over a long period. However, these changes are accelerated by human activities, such as the burning of fossil
fuels, deforestation, industrial processes, and agricultural practices, which
release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and
nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere. The accumulation of these greenhouse
gases traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to a phenomenon known as
the greenhouse effect. This results in a gradual increase in global
temperatures, alterations in precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, more
frequent and severe extreme weather events, shifts in ecosystems and habitats,
and other environmental impacts.
With the rapid growth of industries
and modern developments, man has hastened the impending climate change through
the burning of fossil fuel, deforestation and industrial process. Although the
burning of fossil fuel is seen as the most prominent contributor of greenhouse
gases, emissions from landfills and waste treatment also play a major role in
global warming. In fact it has been a silent contributor to global warming. Every
year, 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste are produced worldwide. This
is expected to grow to 3.40 billion by 2050. The amount of garbage produced
daily per person worldwide varies greatly, ranging from 0.11 to 4.54 kg on
average. The treatment and disposal of solid waste is projected to have
produced 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent greenhouse gas
emissions in 2016, or 5% of global emissions.[2]
Global satellite data between January 2019 and June 2023 reveals 1,256 methane
super-emitter incidents from landfills. Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan top the
list of countries with the biggest breaches.[3]
According to scientists, as metropolitan populations increase, emissions from
poorly managed landfills may quadruple by 2050, greatly increasing the
likelihood of a catastrophic climate event for methane, often known as natural
gas, is a crucial target for climate action because it traps 86 times more heat
in the atmosphere over a 20-year period than carbon dioxide does.
India as a nation generates 160038.9
TPD of solid waste total, of which 152749.5 TPD is collected at a 95.4%
collection efficiency, 79956.3 TPD (or 50%) is processed, and 29427.2 (18.4%)
TPD is landfilled. Thirteen percent (31.7%) of the entire garbage created, or
50655.4 TPD, is still unaccounted for. Tamil Nadu generates 13422 TPD of the
waste which is roughly 8.5% of the total waste generated. The solid waste
generated per capita in India stands at 119.09 gms per day with increasing
trends in solid waste management and decreasing trends in solid waste
landfills. Tamil Nadu ranks eighth among the most state-wide solid waste
generated.[4] Greenhouse
gases emissions is evident in various stages of municipal solid waste
management. The collection, separation, treatment, transfer and disposal each
in the various stage has some amount of emission of greenhouse gases. In
addition to these instruments employed for management of wastes such as garbage
cans, trucks used to transport waste, treatment plants and landfills all
contribute to environment degradation.
Organic materials including food,
paper, wood, and garden trimmings are found in waste. When rubbish is placed in
a landfill, organic material starts to decompose because bacteria start eating
the carbon in it. Methane-producing bacteria can be found in the microbial
communities in landfills due to the anaerobic conditions that prevail there.
Methane (about 50%), carbon dioxide (about 50%), and other gases are released
when the bacteria break down organic matter over time. The act of burying waste
and routinely covering deposits with a low-permeability substance in regulated
landfills fosters the growth of methane-producing bacteria within the landfill.[5]
Emissions are produced by the slow decomposition of the carbon stock in a
landfill even after waste discharge has stopped. This is due to the fact that only
a small portion of the carbon contained in garbage is released in the year that
it is disposed of, and chemical and biological reactions take time to complete.
The majority is released progressively over many years predominantly being CO2
and methane two major greenhouse gases. Numerous ecosystems throughout the
world are still suffering from the widespread introduction of unsustainable,
human-generated garbage into our environment.[6]
Poor or insufficient solid waste management system causes serious problems with
the environment and public health at every level of the collection, handling,
treatment, and disposal of waste.
Understanding
Chennai’s Environmental Footprint
6404
metric tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) are produced daily in Chennai. With
16667 persons per square kilometer, the city has a population density of 426
square kilometers. As of 2021, the population of Chennai is estimated to be
11235018. Chennai's daily average garbage production per person is 172 grams.
Chennai generates 2337460 metric tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) annually.[7] Under
the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919, waste management falls under
the purview of the corporation. The Solid Waste Management of the Greater
Chennai Corporation headed by the Superintendent Engineer is vested with the
responsibility of removing solid waste in Chennai. Every day around
6150 MT of garbage is collected from the city. Night conservancy is also being
carried out in all bus route roads and Markets / commercial areas of the city. Door-to-door
collection of garbage is done in all zones. The primary collection of waste is
fully labour intensive. Conservancy operations takes place in two shifts from
6.30 AM to 1.30 PM and 9.00 PM to 2.00 AM based on the working schedule. The
workers are provided with coco brooms, aluminium baskets, brushes, iron plates,
containerized push carts, tricycles with bins and roto mold wheeled bins. Battery-operated vehicles are used to
collect door-to-door source-separated waste from households; biodegradable
waste is transferred to decentralized waste processing facilities, dry waste is
sent to incinerators, and residual waste is sent to transfer stations or dump
sites.[8] Secondary collection is when the street
collection and separated household wastes are transported from transfer
stations to disposal site.
Garbage, junk (package materials),
building and demolition wastes, leaf litter, hazardous wastes, etc. are among
the wastes produced by a typical metropolitan society of which Household
garbage, non-hazardous solid waste disposed of by commercial, industrial, and
institutional establishments, market waste, yard debris, and street sweepings
collected for disposal by municipal authorities are all considered to be part
of municipal solid waste (MSW).[9] Two solid
waste disposal yards are kept up by the Corporation; one is located in the
north at Kodungaiyur and the other in the south at Perungudi.[10] The cites also hold processing
centers to process construction and demolition wastes of seven zones of greater
Chennai. The remaining construction and demolition wastes are used to cover
layers of garbage in dumpsites. Door-to-door collection of wastes has been
facilitated through battery-operated vehicles which has led to efficient door-to-door
collection as well as a significant reduction in roadside bins. Source
segregation is encouraged to decrease the amount of waste that is sent to
landfills, prolonging their lifespan. In addition to being sold to the general
public, the manure produced by ordinary compost plants, bio methanation plants,
and other biodegradable waste processing facilities at the ward level is
utilized for parks and green spaces in the GCC.
To manage Chennai's solid waste in a few area of the city, the municipal corporation has worked with a number of private businesses, including Onyx, Neel Metal Fanalca (NMF), Ramk, Sumeet Facilities Limited, and Urbaser SA.[11] Source-separated
thin plastics are transported to cement mills as additional fuel after being
balled. To move trash in a covered and compact manner, all open garbage
collection lorries have been replaced with compactor vehicles. Utilizing BARC
technology, five waste-to-energy facilities can process up to 8.80 MT of
biodegradable garbage annually. The electricity produced is utilized to power
high mast lights and street lights.
The results of the 2023 Swachh
Survekshan, a cleanliness survey carried out as part of the Swachh Bharat (Urban)
initiative that covers 446 cities, were recently made public by the Union
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).[12]
The standards of cleanliness for public areas, business and residential
buildings, parks, water features, waste management systems, and schools were
all included in the evaluation. Tamil Nadu has no cities included among the top
100 clean cities. With a nationwide rating of 112, Trichy was deemed the
cleanest city in the State, whereas Chennai received a middling value of 199 overall
and a rank of 5 inside the State. Additionally, the city was deemed ODF++ (Open
Defecation Free), demonstrating that appropriate sewage management and restroom
facilities are in place. The survey's findings also confirmed that 79% of solid
waste in Chennai is separated at the source. Chennai's house-to-house
collection rates are between 80 and 100 percent, based on the 2023 TNPCB Annual
Report on the execution of solid waste management guidelines. The city has
2,121,466 houses total, and 1,866,890 households are served by the service.
Legal
Dimensions of Waste Management
Waste management in India is
regulated by national and state laws in India. The Ministry of Environment,
Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF) oversees waste management, collaborating
with State Pollution Control Boards established in respective States. The
Environmental Protection Act 1986, is the primary legislation on waste
management. The Act prohibits emission or discharge of environment pollutants
beyond the limits prescribed under it. The Polluter Pays Principle is enshrined
in section 9 of the Act of 1986 vesting the responsibility on the polluter to
make amends to the pollution caused. The solid waste management is regulated by
specific rules based on the nature of solid waste. Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016, Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules,2016, Hazardous and Other Wastes
(Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 and Construction and Demolition Waste
Management Rules, 2016 are the central rules under the Act to regulate solid waste management.[13]
Each Urban Local Body has its own set of laws pertaining to governance,
development planning, assessment, and taxation. The waste management system's
setup, operationalization, coordination, and safe collection, storage,
segregation, transportation, processing, and disposal of plastic waste have
been placed under the purview of the local authorities.
The Chennai Corporation Solid Waste
Management Bye-law 2019 encompasses various provisions aimed at regulating the
collection, segregation, transportation, processing, and disposal of solid
waste within the city limits. One of the fundamental aspects of this
legislation is the emphasis on source segregation, wherein households,
institutions, and commercial establishments are mandated to segregate waste at
its point of generation into categories such as biodegradable, non-biodegradable,
and sanitary waste. Furthermore, the bye-law outlines guidelines for the
establishment and operation of solid waste management facilities, including
transfer stations, material recovery facilities, and sanitary landfills. It
also delineates the responsibilities of different stakeholders, including
residents, waste generators, and the civic authorities, in ensuring effective
waste management practices.
The implementation of the Chennai
Corporation Solid Waste Management Bye-law 2019 holds immense significance for
several reasons. Firstly, it addresses the pressing issue of environmental
degradation caused by improper waste disposal. By promoting source segregation
and efficient waste management practices, the bye-law aims to minimize the
adverse impacts of solid waste on soil, water bodies, and air quality, thus
safeguarding public health and ecological balance. Moreover, the bye-law aligns
with broader sustainability goals by emphasizing the importance of resource
conservation and recycling. Through the establishment of material recovery
facilities and promotion of composting and recycling initiatives, the
legislation seeks to reduce the burden on landfills and conserve valuable
natural resources. Furthermore, the bye-law fosters community participation and
awareness by encouraging citizens to actively engage in waste management
processes. By sensitizing residents about the importance of segregation,
recycling, and responsible waste disposal, the legislation aims to foster a
culture of environmental stewardship and civic responsibility.
DATA
ANALYSIS AND ANALYSIS
H01:
Prioritization of waste segregation impacts climatic change
|
Table 1
Model Summary
|
||||
|
Model
|
R
|
R Square
|
Adjusted R Square
|
Std. Error of the Estimate
|
|
1
|
.318a
|
.101
|
.082
|
1.055
|
|
a. Predictors: (Constant), waste management practices significantly
impact climate change, current waste management strategies address climate
change
|
||||
It appears that the r square value of
0.101 has no significant impact on the waste management practices and
strategies related to waste segmentation. This is because the prioritization
given to waste segmentation is not influenced by the prevention, minimization,
and collection of waste management efforts. In essence, even though the r
square value may not be ideal, it does not affect the implementation or
effectiveness of waste management practices regarding waste segmentation.
|
Table 2
ANOVAa
|
||||||
|
Model
|
Sum of Squares
|
df
|
Mean Square
|
F
|
Sig.
|
|
|
1
|
Regression
|
12.035
|
2
|
6.017
|
5.405
|
.006b
|
|
Residual
|
106.874
|
96
|
1.113
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
118.909
|
98
|
|
|
|
|
|
a.
Dependent Variable: prioritize waste segregation
|
||||||
|
b.
Predictors: (Constant), waste management practices significantly impact
climate change, current waste management strategies address climate change
|
||||||
Based on the analysis of variance
(ANOVA) table, it has been found that waste management practices and strategies
play a crucial role in influencing climate change through the segregation of
waste. The growing amount of waste and the lack of adequate funds for programs
and policies have made it challenging to effectively manage waste and mitigate
its impact on the environment.
|
Table 3
Coefficients
|
||||||
|
Model
|
Unstandardized Coefficients
|
Standardized Coefficients
|
t
|
Sig.
|
||
|
B
|
Std. Error
|
Beta
|
||||
|
1
|
(Constant)
|
2.773
|
.508
|
|
5.453
|
.000
|
|
Current
waste management strategies address climate change
|
-.007
|
.129
|
-.005
|
-.054
|
.957
|
|
|
Waste
management practices significantly impact climate change
|
.323
|
.099
|
.319
|
3.273
|
.001
|
|
|
a.
Dependent Variable: prioritize waste segregation
|
||||||
The impact of waste management
strategies on climate change on waste segregation is not statistically
significant. However, the waste management practices have been shown to have a
statistically significant impact on the waste segmentation. It is crucial to
implement effective waste management measures to ensure the protection of human
health and the preservation of natural resources. The implementation of best
practices can lead to a reduction in the volume of waste that ends up in
landfills, thus reducing the stress on the environment and improving the
quality of life for everyone.
HO2: To
analyze the services of a municipal corporation with the disposal of waste in
the climate change
Based on the findings presented in
Table 4, it can be inferred that waste disposal, recycling processes, waste
collection services, and transportation of waste from other areas do not
significantly affect the gender perspective towards climate change. This is due
to the general awareness of the harmful effects of pollution on the environment
and human health. However, it is observed that individuals are not willing to
aid the government in controlling and mitigating the risks associated with
waste management, as their primary concern is focused on ensuring their health
and safety.
The correlation between waste
collection schedules and the improvement of collection services with gender is
statistically significant. This is because the timing of waste collection has a
direct impact on traffic, pollution, disease spread, and accidents. As an
essential part of waste management, the optimization of waste collection
schedules can lead to a reduction in traffic congestion, pollution, and
accidents. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct further research on
gender-specific waste management practices to implement effective waste collection
strategies that cater to the needs of all genders.
Table 4 Independent T-test
|
|
T
|
df
|
Sig. (2-tailed)
|
||
|
Separate
recyclable materials from non-recyclables before disposal
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
-.583
|
97
|
.561
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
-.615
|
94.057
|
.540
|
||
|
Accepted
for recycling
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
.417
|
97
|
.678
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
.397
|
67.881
|
.693
|
||
|
Waste
collection services provided
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
-.477
|
97
|
.634
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
-.475
|
80.381
|
.636
|
||
|
Waste collection
schedules and guidelines
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
-2.659
|
97
|
.009
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
-2.523
|
67.208
|
.014
|
||
|
Addressing
complaints related to waste collection services
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
-.507
|
97
|
.613
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
-.510
|
83.002
|
.611
|
||
|
Improvements in waste collection services
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
-2.160
|
97
|
.033
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
-2.032
|
64.971
|
.046
|
||
|
Corporation’s
role in the transport of waste
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
1.321
|
97
|
.190
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
1.286
|
73.924
|
.203
|
||
HO3: To
examine the disposal of waste items and guidelines and penalties of municipal
corporation
According to the analysis presented
in Table 5, the impact of waste disposal and pickup on the services provided by
the municipal corporation to the gender is not significant. The public,
however, exhibits a greater concern towards waste disposal near their homes as
compared to how corporations dispose of the waste. This suggests that the
municipal corporation should focus on waste management strategies that
prioritize the removal of waste from residential areas in a timely and
effective manner. Such an approach is likely to be more effective in satisfying
public expectations and enhancing the quality of services provided by the
corporation.
Table 5 Independent T-test
|
|
t
|
df
|
Sig. (2-tailed)
|
||
|
Waste
separation and disposal
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
.669
|
97
|
.505
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
.672
|
82.495
|
.504
|
||
|
Disposing
of hazardous waste items; such as batteries or electronics
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
-1.152
|
97
|
.252
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
-1.120
|
73.595
|
.266
|
||
|
Official
guidelines or resources provided by your local municipality
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
-.375
|
97
|
.708
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
-.366
|
74.167
|
.716
|
||
|
Fines or
penalties for improper waste disposal practices
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
-3.082
|
97
|
.003
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
-2.705
|
50.338
|
.009
|
||
|
Missed
waste collection pickups by the municipal corporation in the past year
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
-.642
|
97
|
.522
|
|
|
Equal
variances not assumed
|
-.615
|
69.654
|
.541
|
||
|
Door-to-door
collection of waste
|
Equal
variances assumed
|
2.630
|
97
|
.010
|
|
|
Equal variances
not assumed
|
2.523
|
70.052
|
.014
|
||
Improper waste disposal can have
serious consequences including fines and door-to-door collection.
Interestingly, these penalties can be strongly influenced by gender because the
fines often affect income. For example, if a fine is issued to someone who
earns a lower income, it may have a greater impact on their financial stability
compared to someone who earns a higher income. This can create an uneven
playing field and further exacerbate existing gender inequalities.
SUGGESTIONS
A number of the Sustainable
Development Goals of the United Nations, including achieving clean water and
sanitation, inclusive and sustainable cities and communities, reducing climate
change and showcasing sustainable patterns of consumption and production can be
met with the support of sustainable solid waste management.[14] The
city has definitely upgraded from waste being carelessly dumped on roads,
lawns, and bodies of water as a result of inadequate solid waste management. The
city has notably developed and has been executing an integrated solid waste
management strategy in all phases of solid waste management, including
generation, separation, transportation, transfer/sorting, treatment, and
disposal.
Promoting
Public Awareness and Education
For a more efficient implementation
by the Corporation there is a need to encourage favourable public perceptions
of sustainable waste management. Individuals have to be sensitised to stop
littering and to adopt good garbage dropping and sorting procedures, public
awareness programs using print, electronic, and social media are therefore
necessary. As many people believe, waste management is a shared obligation
rather than the exclusive domain of local government.[15]The
creation of waste is not the end of a person's duty.
Although people are anxious to get
their waste out of their houses, as long as it is not in their backyard, they
don't care where it ends up. But until the garbage is disposed of properly and
safely, nobody is freed from the responsibility of the waste they produce.
Sorting has been given a primary role in the best waste management strategy
this study suggests to facilitate resource and energy recovery as well as make
waste processing, treatment, and disposal easier. It is also necessary to pay
special attention to the provision of sorting bins and public knowledge
regarding waste sorting at the source. Similarly, recycling is a simple and
practical way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of
climate change.[16]
According to Project Drawdown, recycling would cut carbon dioxide emissions by
5.5 to 6.02 gigatons between 2020 and 2050, which is the same as removing
nearly a billion cars off the road for a year. Encourage home composting will
also minimise environmental effects.
Strengthening
Regulatory Framework
The Chennai Corporation Solid Waste
Management Bye-law 2019 represents a significant step towards addressing the
multifaceted challenges of solid waste management in urban areas. By promoting
source segregation, resource conservation, and community participation, the
legislation lays the foundation for a more sustainable and resilient city.
However, its successful implementation hinges on effective enforcement
mechanisms, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative efforts towards achieving
the common goal of a cleaner and greener Chennai. There is a need to impose
strict environmental regulations and better oversee of civic responsibilities
for sustainable waste storage, collection, and disposal, as well as the health
risks associated with solid waste management. Furthermore, in order to deter
unsustainable behaviour, waste generators must be penalised for unsustainable
waste disposal. Furthermore, waste collection services are yet to cover a
certain geographic area of significance.
Enhancing
Stakeholder Engagement
There is a need to include multiple
stakeholders this strategy to be successful, and it must take into account the
technological, institutional, legal, economical, and environmental factors for
a most inclusive and efficient functioning of the strategy. With concerted
efforts from the civic authorities, community organizations, and other relevant
stakeholders, these challenges can be overcome. Capacity-building initiatives,
public awareness campaigns, and partnerships with the private sector can play a
pivotal role in augmenting the implementation of the bye-law and fostering a
culture of sustainable waste management. Community-based and non-governmental
groups can support the promotion of material reuse/recycling, trash reduction,
and separation and sorting at the source.
Invest in
Infrastructure and Technology
Chennai seems to be going through a
transitional period as a result of numerous infrastructure initiatives such as
bio-mining at perungudi, bio CNG plants and compost plants at various locations
are proposed to address various civic problems.[17] A
well-executed plan might yield results in future. The current facilities must
be upgraded to more eco-friendly technology. Open dumpsites and landfills
affect human habitation and animal habitat. Anaerobic biodegradable waste
decomposition and composting methods currently adopted for waste treatment do
not effectively address greenhouse gas emissions.[18]
The harmful environmental effects of these conventional methods are yet to be
scientifically explored in India. Waste management by the municipality is
labour intensive and financing for upgradation of the technology would be much
applauded.
Collaborative Global Efforts:
Given the global nature of climate
change, addressing improper waste management requires collaborative efforts on
a global scale. All nations must work together to establish sustainable waste
management practices that benefit both current and future generations. By
sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices, countries can collectively
mitigate the negative impacts of waste on the environment and public health,
ensuring a more sustainable future for all.
CONCLUSION
India
is grappling with a myriad of environmental challenges arising from waste
generation and inadequate waste collection, transport, treatment, and disposal
mechanisms. The country's existing waste management systems are struggling to
adapt to the burgeoning volumes of waste being generated by an ever-increasing
urban population, leading to severe environmental degradation and public health
concerns. The lack of effective waste management policies and infrastructure in
India is causing significant harm to the environment and public health, and if
immediate action is not taken, India will continue to suffer from poor waste
management practices and their associated impacts on public health and the
environment.
The
study revealed that individuals possess knowledge of waste management
strategies and policies, as well as an understanding of the impact of climate
change. However, due to personal lifestyles and mindsets, people tend to
prioritize their own lives and that of their families over the welfare of
society. To tackle the challenges of waste management and maintain a clean
city, a shift in mindset is necessary, whereby individuals cooperate with the
government in minimizing non-recyclable waste production. In this regard,
people are willing to segregate waste and assist workers in their disposal
services. The corporation's waste management services can schedule waste
disposal without disrupting the people's daily routines. Proper waste
management practices have the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of
climate change and benefit future generations. To conclude ensuring compliance and enforcement of
laws, particularly among diverse stakeholders with varying levels of awareness
and resources coupled with adequate infrastructure, human resources, and
technological interventions will help Chennai in being the top sustainable and
environmentally resilient city in India.
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Article Information
UNRAVELING THE NEXUS: THE IMPACT OF WASTE MANAGEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE - AN EMPIRICAL STUDY
Authors: MRS. BLESSIE AHINO J, S. RAMANA SUBRAMANIAN
- Journal IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Published 2024/08/16
- Issue 7
About Journal
International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis
- Abbreviation IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Access Open Access
- License CC 4.0
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