Columnists

Almitra Patel

Patel is member, Supreme Court committee on solid waste management

Use of single-use plastic needs to be minimised, but the larger problem also needs to be attended to

Wed, Oct 30, 2019

Single-use plastic is only part of what is truly a massive challenge, and that is the management of all kinds of plastic waste.

Cities At Crossroads: Small shows the way

Wed, Apr 24, 2019

Transformation of the municipal solid waste scenario in Tamil Nadu highlights the importance of a systems approach and the role of leadership.

Challenge of managing solid waste in our cities requires community engagement

Wed, Apr 03, 2019

Vellore, with a population of five lakh, has been a trailblazer in decentralised management of solid waste and sending no waste to landfills. It has earned the remarkable distinction of getting its residents to separate wet waste from dry waste.

Cities at crossroads: Small town, cleaner future

Wed, Feb 27, 2019

Big cities should learn how to implement waste separation effectively from small, mid-sized Indian cities.

Waste-to-Energy plants that use solid waste as feedstock pose threat to environment

Wed, Jan 30, 2019

WtE plants in India burn mixed waste. The presence of chlorinated hydrocarbons like PVC results in the release of dioxins and furans when the waste is burnt at less than 850 degree C. Appropriate filtering mechanisms need to be installed to control such dangerous emissions.

The afterlife of e-goods

Wed, Dec 26, 2018

A rapidly growing e-waste crisis needs rapid official decision-making, time-bound responses.

The three bin solution

Wed, Nov 28, 2018

Hazardous, wet and dry domestic waste must be separated. The primary responsibility lies with consumers.

Recycle and build

Wed, Oct 24, 2018

A proactive effort from municipalities and citizens towards recycling of construction and demolition waste will go a long way in curbing pollution.

Building from debris

Wed, Sep 26, 2018

Construction and demolition waste is an environment and public health hazard. Its recycle and reuse offers a sustainable solution

Cities at crossroads: No more cover-ups

Wed, Aug 29, 2018

Municipal authorities are opting for capping as a solution to the problem of mixed waste at dumpsites. Bio-remediation and bio-mining may be more desirable.

Cities at Crossroads: Perils of plastics waste

Wed, Nov 29, 2017

A sustainable way forward is to minimise consumption of single use plastic items, create awareness about the use of appropriate grade of plastic, and emphasise the importance of recycling and reuse.

Cities at crossroads: Don’t waste the possibilities

Wed, Oct 25, 2017

Use of plastic to lay roads shows the way. Initiatives in states like Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh are worth emulating.

From waste to health

Wed, Sep 27, 2017

Compost from biodegradable municipal solid waste will simultaneously clean up our cities and improve agricultural productivity and soil quality of our farms

Lakes of fire

Wed, Aug 30, 2017

The froth spewing from them in Bengaluru is a symptom of a pervasive urban problem — the discharge of untreated sewage into water bodies.

Back to waste basics

Wed, Jul 26, 2017

Don’t mix different types of waste. The correct way to manage it is to expose it to air

A city laid waste

Wed, Jun 28, 2017

A new rapid bioremediation process that can remove garbage hills and end their ill effects, promises a low-cost solution to waste management and disposal. It is very important that alternative technologies are carefully evaluated on their merit.