Challenges of Environmental Health in Waste Management for Peri-urban Areas

Improper waste management in many Indian cities poses serious environmental health risk to the inhabitants. Indecent disposal of household waste and poor waste management systems by state and local government creates opportunities for disease-causing agents to thrive and thereby put the health of the population at risk. This study aims to identify the challenges of waste management, outline the implications of improper waste management on environmental health, and seek to provide solutions. Although most parts of cities have poor waste management systems, a peri-urban area is most plagued. This is partly due to the local market situated in peri-urban areas and industrial units that dump waste materials in unscientific manner. From the study, improper waste management was identified as a major challenge of urbanization, which is prominent in metropolitan cities as with some other cities. It was also discovered that poor waste management poses serious risk to the environmental health of the population. Solutions proposed include citizen education on appropriate waste disposal habits, efficient Municipal Waste Management Planning and funding, and sustained street sweeping and cleaning. The challenges of environmental health in waste management in India are significant and multifaceted. The waste management infrastructure in India is inadequate, and waste segregation at the source is poor, resulting in mixed waste being dumped in landfills. A limited awareness among the general public about proper waste management practices further exacerbates the problem. The informal sector dominates waste management, which is often inefficient and works in unhygienic conditions, leading to health hazards. Inefficient collection and transportation of waste, along with outdated and poorly enforced government policies, contribute to environmental pollution and the spread of diseases. Additionally, many Indian cities lack access to advanced waste management technologies, further hindering the ability to manage waste in a sustainable manner. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that involves improving infrastructure, raising awareness, strengthening government policies, and involving the informal sector in the process.