Waste Segregation: A Global Challenge We Can No Longer Ignore

The global challenge of waste segregation is one we must confront urgently. Today, whether in households or workplaces, everyone has a critical role in sorting waste at its source. Proper segregation is essential for fostering a sustainable circular economy, where reuse and recycling systems are at the forefront. This blog discusses the significant role individuals play in addressing this pressing issue.

What Should We Do with Waste?
In waste management, a common question arises: what should we do with our waste? When an item no longer serves a purpose or has reached the end of its life, we classify it as waste. However, much of this waste can be repurposed as raw material for new products. For example, wet waste, when properly sorted, stored, and maintained, can be converted into compost or biogas. This process is achievable when wet waste is separated from other types and directed to appropriate processing facilities.

The Importance of Source Segregation
If wet waste mixes with non-biodegradable materials such as paper, plastic, metal, or glass, which don’t naturally break down, efforts to process waste often fail, and desired results are not achieved. Plastic waste, for instance, poses a particular problem. Although plastic recycling is frequently discussed, improper sorting limits its effectiveness. When plastic is correctly separated, it can be reused or recycled efficiently. Effective waste segregation must occur at the source—where the waste is initially generated. Waste should be sorted and stored according to its type, such as wet versus dry waste. Even within dry waste, materials like paper, plastic, metal, and glass should be separated. Hazardous waste, including medical waste, requires separate handling and storage. Proper segregation enables recycling and creates value from waste.

Who Is Responsible for Source Segregation?
The responsibility for waste segregation rests primarily with individual. Waste producers—whether at home or in offices. Every citizen must ensure their waste is sorted before it’s handed over to be transported to processing plants. Without proper sorting at the source, no waste management project can succeed. The accumulation of garbage on streets or in dumping grounds is a direct result of improper segregation.

Challenges Faced by Waste Processing Units
Numerous projects, like those in Pune and other cities, focus on processing waste to transform or eliminate it. However, these efforts often encounter obstacles due to incomplete segregation. When different types of waste are combined, the processing workflow is disrupted, and intended outcomes cannot be achieved, rendering much of the waste genuinely unusable. All types of waste—be it household trash, garden clippings, or office paper—can potentially be recycled. In order to make this possible, proper segregation and classification of waste at the source is crucial.

Mr. Malhar Karwande

Chief Operating Office

Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative ( APCCI )