Assessment of Household Practices of Solid Waste Management in Jammu City, India

Abstract

The problem of Solid Waste Management (SWM) has gained recent attention in developing countries. The city of Jammu being a major city of Union Territory (UT) J&K, a prominent tourist and pilgrim site is facing a massive upheaval in the waste generation rates. The city is facing a sharp contrast between increasing generation rates on one hand and inadequacy of funds on the other hand. Jammu city is observed to generate 350-400 Tons per Day (TPD) with a per capita generation of 550 grams per day. The survey shows that residents of the city do not segregate waste at the source, possess inadequate storage facilities and often dump the waste openly without any treatment. They tend to have little knowledge about the efficient practices of waste management, adverse consequences on the environment and public health and the prevailing laws in the state. Thus, the sound planning of waste management study attempts to address the challenges linked to current household waste management practices. The study further recommends resorting to the practice of 3 Rs-Reduce, reuse and recycle, involving households in segregation at the source, making the residents aware of the existing by-laws and encouraging their participation in efficient waste management practices. These practices will act as a driver for behavior change of individuals towards efficient household practices of managing waste.