4-Day Training Program on Integrated Solid Waste Management

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) organized a four-day training program on “Integrated Solid Waste Management” at Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute (AAETI), Nimli, Rajasthan from 14^th-17^thSeptember 2021. During the programme, numerous issues and experiences of recent waste management concerns and planning initiatives were discussed by subject experts. The event witnessed participants from 15 cities from 7 states who are responsible for the solid waste management and operations in their cities. The event discussed in detail the regulations, technical processing options and case studies in Solid, Plastic, E-waste, Biomedical and C&D waste. The training supported and maintained a balance of theory and practical sessions along with signature sessions, group discussions, and class exercises.

The objective of the programme is to enable participants understand the essential legislation and compliance in implementation of Solid Waste Management (SWM) at the local bodies, and allied waste management issues prevailing in different contours of the country.The programme basically encompassed lectures, case studies, dialogues, assignments and group activities viz. identifying challenges, and developing strategies for all the elements of solid waste management ranging from source segregation to monitoring and capacity building.

The training also deliberated upon the different themes related to management of solid waste: The training started with understanding what is waste, and went on to describe the status of solid waste in the country. The second day focussed on the importance of Information, Education and Communication (IEC), source segregation and decentralization. The third day focussed on recovery of materials from our waste, importance of integration of informal sector and the potential cost they can save for the urban local government, status and implementation issues were discussed around three specific streams of waste: plastics, e-waste and biomedical waste including COVID-19 related waste. The last day of the training focussed on the dumpsite remediation and landfill management, followed by the need and methodology for preparing a roadmap for improving the solid waste management in our cities. A total of 6 cities presented their case studies over a period of 4 days.

The training augmented the awareness level and importance of source segregation among participants, and motivated them to reduce wastes at individual level. It further, propelled them to think and consume resources sustainably. Some key take away for participants from this training were: existing status of waste management in India; major provisions of the new waste management Rules 2016 and their status of implementation, roles and responsibilities among different stakeholders; inventorisation and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR); decentralised waste management; use of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for behavioural changes and site visit to comprehend and learn about prevailing best waste management practices in the country. Furthermore, the participants mentioned that such platforms not only provide them an opportunity to meet, engage, gain and share knowledge from diverse fields, but also facilitate them in ideating probable solutions for our shared common world.