A Sustainable Approach to the Municipal Solid Waste Management in Neyyatinkara Municipality, Kerala, India

Abstract

This paper presents the current status of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) system of Neyyatinkara, one of the municipalities of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India. The study provides an overview of generation, segregation, collection, transportation, disposal and recycling of municipal solid waste with emphasis on assessment of the type and mode of waste disposal practices followed by the households. The main objective of the study is to identify the major problems and limitations that hinder improvement in the current MSWM practices and finally suggest remedial measures. Basic information was gathered from municipality and representative ward members. A detailed field survey was carried out with documentary and photographic investigations and also using a questionnaire which was circulated among the households. The study reveals that the present system of MSWM is inadequate, as the average collection efficiency is only 45%-50% of non-segregated waste. Open dumping and burning are the prevalent approaches followed for final disposal. Unscientific methods of disposal without proper treatment create environmental pollution and human health issues. Provision of services by the municipal authority is hindered by limited budget, inadequate technical capacity, weak enforcement of laws, inadequate data on quantity of waste and its characteristics, poor urban planning, infrastructures and socio-cultural patterns. The study showed that organic waste constituted a major component of the total wastes. A decentralized action plan incorporating effective composting methods for organic waste particularly a mix of Effective microorganisms and vermicomposting is suggested as a sustainable alternative method based on analyses of the compost for total carbon, NPK and C/N ratio of four different treatments investigated. Also factors to be considered to implement Solid Waste Management (SWM) practices successfully at household level are also elaborated.