“Landfills are no longer burial grounds of waste, but symbols of policy paralysis.” Explain the causes behind India’s growing landfill crisis. Suggest measures to convert waste into resource.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Q6. “Landfills are no longer burial grounds of waste, but symbols of policy paralysis.” Explain the causes behind India’s growing landfill crisis. Suggest measures to convert waste into resource. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: NIE
Why the question: The issue is significant as India’s landfill crisis reflects poor urban governance, failure of waste segregation, and non-compliance with Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, despite missions like Swachh Bharat 2.0 and NGT interventions. Key demand of the question: The question demands analysing the structural and policy causes behind the landfill problem and suggesting concrete, technology-driven and governance-based measures to turn waste into a productive resource through circular economy and decentralised models. Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Begin with a data-backed statement on India’s waste generation and its link to urbanisation, highlighting how landfills have turned into environmental hazards. Body: Causes of landfill crisis: Briefly mention poor segregation, weak enforcement, infrastructural gaps, and governance failures. Measures to convert waste into resource: Suggest solutions like waste-to-energy, composting, EPR, circular economy practices, and decentralised management. Conclusion: Conclude with a futuristic note on achieving zero-landfill cities through integrated waste governance and citizen participation.
Why the question: The issue is significant as India’s landfill crisis reflects poor urban governance, failure of waste segregation, and non-compliance with Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, despite missions like Swachh Bharat 2.0 and NGT interventions.
Key demand of the question: The question demands analysing the structural and policy causes behind the landfill problem and suggesting concrete, technology-driven and governance-based measures to turn waste into a productive resource through circular economy and decentralised models.
Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Begin with a data-backed statement on India’s waste generation and its link to urbanisation, highlighting how landfills have turned into environmental hazards.
• Causes of landfill crisis: Briefly mention poor segregation, weak enforcement, infrastructural gaps, and governance failures.
• Measures to convert waste into resource: Suggest solutions like waste-to-energy, composting, EPR, circular economy practices, and decentralised management.
Conclusion: Conclude with a futuristic note on achieving zero-landfill cities through integrated waste governance and citizen participation.