Delhi, Pandemic, Covid19 Waste and Waste Segregation

There has been a flurry of news reports recently on the mounting garbage crisis in Delhi. As if the three landfill sites at Bhalswa, Okhla and Ghazipur weren't enough, the city is now staring at a new growing pile of waste. And this waste is more lethal than the previous ones. The hazardous biomedical waste.

According to news reports by outlets such as The Times of India, Hindustan Times, India Today, NDTV etc. personal protective equipment (PPE) like body suits, face masks, hand gloves and shoe covers are being dumped at landfills and at crematoriums in the city.

This can have serious repercussions. People who live in the vicinity of such areas are at a high risk of being infected. And some sanitation workers have already been tested covid19-positive and some have lost their lives.

As we wade through the covid19 pandemic we should resolve to take this pandemic as an opportunity. We should be far more considerate towards the lives of those who stay deal with our waste directly or those who stay in the vicinity of places where such waste is being dumped.

We should look inwards to improve our waste (mis)management practices. We have been stressing upon the significance of waste segregation at source. It's really not that difficult. It's just a matter of prioritization.

Do we not arrange our utensils in kitchen? Spoons together, forks together, knives together, bowls together, plates together? For ease of access? Do we not arrange our clothes in our wardrobes? Shirts/ t-shirts together, trousers/ denims together? That is very much a form of segregation.

We can do the same with our waste. Dry, wet and biomedical waste (if any) - all separately in designated bins. As for the biomedical waste, here's what the Central Pollution Control Board guideline says:

Collect and store biomedical waste separately prior to handing over the same to Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility (CBWTF). Use a dedicated collection bin labelled as 'COVID-19' to store COVID-19 waste and keep separately in temporary storage room prior to handing over to authorised staff of CBWTF. Biomedical waste collected in such isolation wards can also be lifted directly from ward into CBWTF collection van.

It will not only help improve the lives of the destitute but will also have a positive impact on our environment. We also spoke to Mr. Ashish Jain on waste management in covid and post-covid times. It's an eye opening discussion. You may watch it here:

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