Nirmala Nagaram Nirmala Bhavanam- A model for decentralized and community based solid waste management system

The realization of sustainable solid waste management is a major challenge for local governments today. Unplanned rapid population growth in both the urban and suburban areas has resulted in serious infrastructural problems making conventional solid waste management practices difficult to implement. Furthermore, many developing countries suffer from challenges like inadequate government funding and capacity, higher initial costs and operation of conventional systems, failure in the creation of new transfer stations and dumpsites, limited community awareness and resulting illegal waste dumping and pollution, etc. While dealing with the issue of waste management. When solid waste management services are not provided or accessible, the responsibility to manage solid waste becomes the responsibility of individuals. The irony is that though every responsible person seems to be worried and anxious about environmental degradation, a meaningful solution is nowhere in sight. It is here that the Mahatma's concept on ‘decentralization’ becomes a means and hope. The article presented here attempts to highlight the application of a Decentralized Social Engineering approach in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management system that has been practicing successfully across the Alappuzha Municipality for the last few years.