Green bodies ask Delhi govt to remove landfills

NEW DELHI: Green bodies and the experts have observed that in order to eradicate regular pollution, the government should look at waste management system and the practice of landfills should be stopped. The experts emphasized on recycling of wastes than dumping them.

"There is a need for a decentralised treatment of waste and convert into useful byproduct. It needs to be started from home and education in schools where everyone should be taught to segregate waste and only throw which cannot be recycled," Alok Gupta, waste management expert.

He added that installing decentralised waste treatment plants at the community level in dhalaos/ big gardens is a logical step forward instead of transporting the waste.

"Today technology is available which is cost-effective in the sense that whatever the authorities are spending on transport can be spent on recycling which can alone lead to significant reduction in waste," Gupta said.

Talking about the landfills, Anumita Roychowdhury, director (operations), Centre for Science and Environment, noted that landfills are the most ancient way to keep garbage and this should go.

"Getting more sites for landfills will not help because the waste will be generated every day and new landfills will also get exhausted someday. Plans need to be made around recycling our waste so that minimum waste goes to these sites," she said.

Agreeing with her statement, Gupta said, "Who would want to live near one? Would you like to live near a natural mountain or garbage mountain? Alternatives are either sham power plants which are not even net revenue power producers or decentralised waste management.