Delhi’s waste crisis, a silent threat to the city’s future

Written by Abhishek Mukhopadhyay

“Waste isn’t waste until we waste it,” said Will.i.am, highlighting a pressing truth the world can no longer overlook. Nowhere is this reality more graphic than in Delhi, India’s sprawling, metropolitan capital city, home to over 2 million people. Delhi produces an alarming 11,000 tonnes of municipal waste daily, the highest among all the Indian cities. Despite efforts by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), over half of this waste is in the city’s three lofty landfills: Bhalswa, Ghazipur, and Okhla- turning them into deadly environmental hazards.

The ramifications of improper waste management are mind-boggling. When rubbish is indiscriminately dumped in landfills, it leads to soil, air and water contamination. Leachate, a toxic liquid from waste, seeps into the ground, acting like venom on the soil and groundwater. Delhi’s landfills are infamous for emitting methane, a potent greenhouse gas that speeds up climate change.

These effects don’t just harm the environment -they damage people. Nearby communities suffer from foul odours, an escalation in disease-carrying pests, and a rise in health issues like respiratory problems, water-borne diseases and gastro illnesses. The impact on property values and the local economy is acute, as the areas around the landfills become undesirable to live in, shooing away
residents and hampering development.

But the environmental harm doesn’t stop there. Waste dumping affects animals and marine life as well. Stray animals often scavenge through the garbage, consuming plastic and other hazardous materials. Marine ecosystems suffer as rivers like the Yamuna carry waste downstream, choking aquatic life with pollutants and non-biodegradable debris. Missed recycling opportunities only exacerbate the problem, with tonnes of plastic, metal, and organic waste that could have been reused, contributing instead to environmental deterioration.

The MCD uses three main methods for waste disposal: landfilling, incineration, and recycling. While incineration reduces the quantity of waste, it comes with its challenges, including releasing toxic fumes. Recycling efforts are ongoing, but they are far from sufficient, given the scale of waste generation. A radical and sustainable approach is the need of the hour.

Ways to tackle the waste

To address these challenges, the 7Rs of waste management: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink, Repair, and Rot- come into play and must become the spine of Delhi’s waste management strategy. Refusing single-use plastics, reducing consumption, and reusing materials can cut down the amount of waste produced in the first place. Motivating recycling by providing large bins and containers for biodegradable and recyclable waste strategically placed as far away as possible from residential areas will ensure that waste is majorly
segregated and processed.

Public involvement is crucial to this transformation. Communities must be educated on the importance of proper waste disposal, incentives and rewards for good behaviour, along with clear guidelines not to litter streets and use garbage trucks and waste facilities, which can promote responsible habits.

Setting an example and regularly monitoring waste management efforts can foster a culture of cleanliness. Above all, keeping the process simple, jargon- free, and transparent will encourage mass participation and involvement.

Delhi’s waste problem is not just a government issue- it’s a community issue. The health of the environment, the well-being of its citizens, and the city’s future health depend on collective action and harmony.

The current methods at play, while being a start, are not enough. With the 7Rs guiding the way and with a renewed effort to promote sustainable practices, Delhi can turn its waste problem around and, in a way, inspire others. If we continue to ignore this growing crossroads, we won’t be just burying our waste- we’ll be burying our future and all that we worked for and built over the years with it.