Solid Waste Management – Global Warming NWF had taken a step forward towards global warming and climate change in the year 2006, by taking an initiative of “Zero Garbage Disposal” and launched its pilot project in the city Faridabad.
The effects of global warming on the Indian subcontinent vary from the submergence of low-lying islands and coastal lands to the melting of glaciers in the Indian Himalayas, threatening the volumetric flow rate of many of the most important rivers of India and South Asia. In India, such effects are projected to impact millions of lives. As a result of ongoing climate change, the climate of India has become increasingly volatile over the past several decades; this trend is expected to continue.
Several effects of global warming, including steady sea level rise, increased cyclonic activity, and changes in ambient temperature and precipitation patterns, have affected or are projected to affect India.
Ongoing sea level rises have submerged several low-lying islands in the Sundarbans, displacing thousands of people.[3] Temperature rises on the Tibetan Plateau, which are causing Himalayan glaciers to retreat.
Neelkanth’s Initiative towards Global Warming
Most local governments and urban agencies have, time and again, identified solid waste as a major problem that has reached proportions requiring drastic measures. We can observe three key trends with respect to solid waste - increase in shear volume of waste generated by urban residents; change in the quality or make-up of waste generated; and the disposal method of waste collected, by land-fill, incineration etc. It is critical to adopt a broad approach in developing a working framework for solid waste management (SOLID WASTE MANAGMENT). This covers the social, economic, technology, political and administrative dimensions. For example the social dimension of SOLID WASTE MANAGMENT involves waste minimization; the economic dimension of SOLID WASTE MANAGMENT involves waste recycling; the technology dimension of SOLID WASTE MANAGMENT involves waste disposal; and the political and administrative dimensions cuts across all the three issues of minimization, recycling and disposal.
In the year 2006, Neelkanth had taken an initiative by introducing the concept of “Zero Garbage Disposal”
In the “Zero Garbage Disposal” plan the waste is collected and being segregated by the Neelkanth’s volunteers at the site where the waste is generated and Neelkanth motivates and educate the people for proper segregation of waste through various modes like monthly newsletters, seminars etc…The segregated waste “Organic and Non Organic” is transported to the waste collection station.
How Recycling can Help Stop Global Warming
As the landfills filled with our garbage produce a dangerous greenhouse gas called methane, recycling is a great way to get started fighting global warming.
These simple actions can make a big difference in fighting global warming with recycling and reducing the garbage accumulating in landfills.
Recycle Aluminum - Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours -- or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline. It takes 95% less energy to recycle aluminum than it does to make it from raw materials.
Recycle Steel "Tin" Cans - A 60-watt light bulb can be run for over a day on the amount of energy saved by recycling 1 pound of steel. In one year in the United States, the recycling of steel saves enough energy to heat and light 18,000,000 homes! It takes 60% less energy to recycle steel than it does to make it from raw materials.
Recycle Paper - Each ton (2000 pounds) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents a 64% energy savings, a 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution! The 17 trees saved can absorb a total of 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air each year. Burning that same ton of paper would create 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide. It takes 40% less energy to recycle newspaper than it does to make it from raw materials.
Recycle Plastic - Recycling plastic saves twice as much energy as burning it in an incinerator. It takes 70% less energy to recycle plastics than it does to make it from raw materials.
Recycle Glass - The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle can run a 100-watt light bulb for four hours. It also causes 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution than when a new bottle is made from raw materials. It takes 40% less energy to recycle glass than it does to make it from raw materials.
Recycle Your Used Motor Oil - Two gallons of used motor oil can generate enough electricity to power the average home for one day, cook 48 meals in a microwave oven, blow-dry a person’s hair at least 216 times, vacuum a house for 15 months or watch television for 7 and a half days straight! (180 hours)
Use Recycled Paper - Using 100% post-consumer recycled paper for your printer or copy machine keeps 5 pounds of carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere per ream of paper.
Reuse and/or Recycle Your Grocery Bags - When 1 ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil are saved.
Use a Reusable Cloth, Hemp or Mesh Shopping Bag - A sturdy, reusable bag needs only be used 11 times to have a lower environmental impact than using 11 disposable plastic bags
Buy Products with the Least Amount of Packaging - Reducing trash by purchasing products with minimal packaging saves 1000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere.
Organic Waste - Vermi composting
The waste segregated organic waste has to be treated before disposal for the protection of environment. In the treatment the biodegradable waste can be processed by composting, vermi-composting, for stabilization of waste. Actually every organic matter has a tendency to be converted into inorganic matter as the later is a stabilized form. If this conversion takes place in absence of oxygen (anaerobic digestion) which is a general case in solid waste processing, foul gases are evolved.
The compost prepared can be further used in the plantation of the trees. Neelkanth had taken an initiative towards plantation.
“During photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime”….
