A Wake-up Call For Sustainable Waste Disposal

Someone asked me, "Why can't it be like a Mahakumbh, except with participation from everyone without an invitation? It should be like the Kumbh, where there's no need for someone to lead you—you just instinctively know the way," said Akash Keshav, Co-founder & CEO of Sprih, in an interview with ResponsibleUs.

This sentiment from an earlier interview reinforces the importance of individual responsibility toward the environment. The real challenge is to reshape sustainability into a culture that is not seen as a one-time effort but an ongoing responsibility. People need to realize that their actions directly impact their lives. Despite repeated incidents, have we learned our lesson? In just three weeks, Noida Authority's new dumpsite in Sector 117, meant for horticulture waste, caught fire. A similar incident in Noida’s Sector 32A had earlier prompted officials to relocate the dumping area to Sector 117.

"We have awareness, but we are not responsible enough to follow the rules to protect the environment. People must understand that their actions directly impact the environment, whether they feel connected to the issue or not. Real change will come only when individuals recognize the consequences of their behavior," said Vishal Gupta, Chief Technical Officer, Maxvolt Energy Industries.

Thick smoke engulfed the surrounding areas as the newly designated dumpsite caught fire around 8:00 AM on Sunday. Strong surface winds played a key role in spreading the smoke to Sorkha village—adding fuel to the fire and making a bad situation even worse.

As The Times of India reported, Anand Mohan Singh, Deputy Director of Horticulture at Noida Authority, said they are unaware of who dumped the waste at the Sector 117 horticulture dumpsite, as they themselves are not disposing of any waste at the site.

The sector is home to around 40 societies and several residential complexes, with over one lakh residents living near this dumpsite.

Health Hazards

While smoke may not cause immediate harm, it poses serious risks, particularly for those with respiratory conditions. Prolonged exposure can lead to severe lung diseases. Burning waste may not create a permanent crisis, but recurring fires highlight a lack of individual responsibility, exacerbating the problem.

Dr. Amit Prajapat Consultant Intensivist, Critical Care Specialis At Shalby Hospital Ahmedabad, explained that prolonged exposure to smoke from burning garbage greatly affects public health by producing respiratory difficulties, aggravating pre-existing illnesses, and possibly developing long-term health issues like cancer, asthma, and COPD. "To reduce these health risks, officials should carry out thorough waste management plans involving better collection and disposal systems, support of circular economy activities, and investigation of cleaner heating alternatives," he added.

This issue can also be regulated through stringent policies. "Incinerating waste has enduring health consequences that are not immediately acknowledged or perceived. There should be stringent regulations on open garbage incineration and the adoption of safer methods that minimize pollution. As waste generation is perpetual, technology should be employed to convert it into energy, facilitating waste disposal while simultaneously harnessing energy," said Dr Brajesh Kumar Tiwari, Associate Professor at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

The recurring incidents of waste fires underscore the urgent need for collective action in waste management. . However, change is possible. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Independence Day speech from the Red Fort on Independence Day, was singing for sustainable waste management and the need for people to free India of single-use plastics and human-innovated recycle solutions.

This image corresponds to the rapidly rising awareness and action gathering speed in the country. Cities, today, are adopting waste-to-energy projects, tougher waste segregation methods, and community cleanliness drives. The challenge now is to translate awareness into action and make sustainability a metaphorical part of life, just as common as an instinct finding one's way to Kumbh.