A low ­carbon future through sector ­led change

In India, a sector-led, action-based approach could provide the framework to drive low-carbon transformation. In the build-up to the 'Leaders' climate summit organized by the united states this week (April 22-23), there has been a flurry of articles about whether India should announce a net-zero' emissions target, and by when. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) 1.5°C report called for global carbon emissions to reach net-zero by 2050, which the pressure cooker of climate diplomacy has quickly transformed diplomacy has quickly transformed into a call for all countries to announce 2050 as the net-zero target year. Yet, global net-zero may require some countries to reach net-zero before 2050 for others to have some additional time. Since a disproportionate share of the carbon space has been used up by developed countries, they must act boldly at home, to match the vigor of their diplomatic efforts. Nonetheless, as a climate-vulnerable country, India must also...

Waste management

Waste Management is the disposal of wastes or handling of waste materials. There are several forms of handling of wastes since wastes can be generated in all sorts of ways ranging from ordinary household wastes to industrial generated wastes.
The industrialization has brought a lot of good things and bad things as well. One of the negative effects of industrialization is the creation of solid waste. But as development and population increase, waste management also has become increasingly complex problems for many nations.

The main objective of waste management is to efficiently handle the disposal of garbage without harming public health and the environment. However most, wastes generated are not properly managed thus causing environmental disasters and deaths for many people due to pollution(wastes).

waste-management



Common methods of a garbage disposal or waste management

1. Recycling is the form of making a used or discarded material into another product. It comes into different recycling processes depending on the material that's being recycled. The most recycled materials are cloth, tin cans, glass, papers, aluminum, and newspapers.

Materials such as electronic devices are more difficult to recycle since these still need dismantling for separation before the recycling process.

2. Landfill - This is the oldest form of waste management. Waste materials are disposed of or dumped in a site wherein it includes burying of wastes. Among all forms of waste disposal, this is the most harmful to the environment due to the generation of gas such as methane, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases. It also brings leachate issues that pollute nearby groundwater and vegetation lands.

3. Incineration - It is the disposal method that involves the combustion of garbage usually described as thermal treatment of wastes. In this method, garbage is destroyed using high temperatures to be converted into gas, heat, steam, and ash. This method reduces the volume of waste up to 20 to 30% of the original volume.

4. Composting - This method only applies to organic materials such as kitchen wastes and plant remains that easily decompose. It's the end product that is earthy and crumbly substance can serve as organic fertilizer. 

Only biodegradable waste materials are used in composting. Good quality environmentally friendly manure is formed from the compost and can be used for agricultural purposes.

5. Gasification - It is a form of incineration, but only differs in thermal treatment. This method destroys wastes in a controlled oxygen environment thus limits atmospheric emissions, unlike incineration that produces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

 An example of the gasification method is the Biosphere Process System or Biosphere Technology. It effectively destroys wastes in an environmental manner at the same time converts these wastes into clean green energy.

EFFECTS OF POOR WASTE MANAGEMENT

  •  After a few days of dumping wastes, a foul smell is produced and different kinds of disease-causing insects as well as infectious organisms.
  • wastes come from industries contains toxic metals, hazardous wastes, and various types of chemicals. When it released in the environment, solid wastes can cause biological as well as physicochemical problems to the environment and may affect the productivity of the soils in that particular area.
  • Toxic materials and chemicals may seep into the soil and pollute the groundwater.
  • When hazardous wastes are burned they produce dioxins and toxic gasses.
  • These toxic gases have the potential of causing different kinds of diseases including cancer.



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