Improvised segregation of recyclable materials in Guwahati City, India: A case study

In India, collection, segregation, transportation, and disposal of solid waste are often unscientific and chaotic. Uncontrolled dumping of wastes on the outskirts of towns and cities has created over-flowing landfills, which have environmental impacts in the form of pollution to soil, groundwater, and air, and also contribute to global warming. Without proper planning the pace of this urban growth could cause a strain to the municipal infrastructures like water supply, sewage and solid waste disposal causing public health problems.

In the absence of formalized waste segregation practices, recycling has emerged only as an informal sector using outdated technology, which causes serious health problems to waste–pickers.

The present research is aimed at finding out a possible alternative for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management. It is aimed at participation and facilitation of the rag pickers in the solid waste disposal system so that better earning for the rag pickers are ensured with safe methods for segregation and also facilitates optimum recycling and reuse. Items reclaimed by rag pickers will be procured by the company at market price for further processing, e.g. paper for recycling or burning based on state of the materials, plastics for further segregation in plastic recycling plant. Uniqueness of the system will lie in the mechanical segregation plant installed in the MSW unit. This system will also eliminate the requirement of huge amount of land for landfill.