Towards zero waste Manipur
- Critical need of the hour -

Dr Sonia Devi Henam / Dr Bachaspatimayum Debkumari *

Background : Manipur with a population of approximately 30 lakh is one of the most beautiful States, extremely rich in natural resources, of India with the city of Imphal as its capital. The State covers an area of 22,327 square kilometres. However the capital city is gradually getting choked with unsustainable waste disposal practices making it equivalent to a dumpsite .

One of the many woes of our State is the deteriorating condition of Loktak Lake mainly because of waste flowing into the lake from paddy fields, untreated sewage from Imphal, plastic and degradation of the biomass continuously deteriorating its water quality. Waste from homes, markets, touristic areas, homestays, businesses and institutions is thrown on the streets, in drains, dumped anywhere or openly burnt.

Not only does it lead to flooding, air and water pollution and other health problems, this also makes our cities unsightly and unattractive to tourists and potential investors. It has become critically important for Manipur to have a sustainable road map immediately leading to ZERO WASTE MANIPUR with segregation starting from source.

Metaphorically speaking we will be drowning neck deep in the waste if action is not taken quickly. Getting to zero waste requires a bold vision to move away from the status quo.

Status of waste management in Manipur

According to the annual report on Status of Implementation of MSW Rules 2020 - 2021 of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), New Delhi, municipal solid waste generated (TPD) in Manipur is 282.3 tonnes per day (TPD), out of which 190.3 TPD are collected (108.6 TPD are treated and 81.7 TPD landfilled).

The same report also states that house to house collection is covered by all 27 urban local bodies (ULBs) and segregation is being carried out by 22 ULBs out of 27, which is being transported in open vehicles. A mechanized composting plant has been in operation at the MSW management plant at Lamdeng. The Waste to Energy plant using pyrolysis technology is under trial run.

Five sanitary landfill sites are in operation at Imphal MC, Thoubal MC, Bishenpur MC, Kakching MC and Jiribam MC.

1) As for the estimated plastic waste generation in the State, it is approximately 8292.8 TPA during 2019-20. There is also a complete ban imposed vide Notification dated: 12.09.2017 on use of carry bags made of recycled plastic for storage, carrying, dispensing or packaging ready to eat or drink foodstuff.

2) Problem Statement Despite the rigorous efforts by the State government, a robust mechanism is still required. The uncollected 92 TPD of waste remains a problem as it leads to littering in the environment.

Most importantly, the rapidly growing population and urbanization, developing cities and municipalities are facing capacity constraints in dealing with the rising volume and complexity of waste streams. The new and emerging waste, such as e-waste, health-care waste, plastic waste, construction and demolition waste and household hazardous waste, are recognized as particular challenges.

As per the same annual CPCB report, non-availability of suitable land continues to be the main constraint for the effective implementation of MSW Rules; setting up of waste processing facility for the local bodies in Manipur. This also remains a problem area of our state.

There is an urgent need for cities and municipalities to strengthen their capacity in the aspects of policy, technology, finance and institutional arrangements to advance waste management infrastructure and services in the context of realizing resource efficient and zero waste societies.

Solutions-Towards Zero Waste Manipur

Solid waste management has always been a significant challenge for Manipur, and this challenge has attained overwhelming proportions over the years owing to growing urbanisation and unsustainable practices. The good news is that shifting to a zero waste approach could be one of the solutions to this gigantic problem.

Zero waste is defined as the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse and recovery of products, packaging and materials without burning, and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health" —(Zero Waste International Alliance).

Segregating the waste at source will provide many answers to the ever increasing problem of waste management in Manipur. Source segregation helps improve the quality of recyclables, the treatment and processing efficiency, and significantly reduces the quantity of waste that reaches landfills.

Why zero waste ?

1. Circular Economy of waste management: Circular economy will eliminate waste and pollution.

2. Build resilient policies, programs, trainings and infrastructure in implementing the plan. Zero waste is a means towards environmental goals and a holistic tool of social intervention towards well-being for all.

3. Accelerates economic recovery - cities need equitable and inclusive recovery. Zero waste creates more jobs than traditional forms of waste disposal and presents new opportunities for local businesses.

4. Protects public health - waste incineration causes serious health problems. Zero waste reduces air pollution to ensure safe, liveable neighbourhoods.

5. Mitigates climate change - landfilling and incineration are major climate polluters. Moving away from these outdated forms of waste management towards zero waste reduces emissions.

6. Selling Carbon Credits - obtain revenue from the sale of compost and through the CDM mechanism, by selling carbon credits to UNFCCC Annex I countries.

7. Find further tools and resources that allows to dig deeper into the topic of zero waste, supporting further as we transition Manipur towards a zero waste future, one community at a time.

Conclusion

Already, hundreds of cities around the world have developed zero waste systems saving them millions, creating jobs, and building up local economies. Policymakers, advocates, and institutions can stand on the right side of history and rebuild stronger, more resilient local economies while preserving our planet.

As evident from Masterplan that has been used previously and still using, the solutions already exist. It's time to put them into action.