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        The changing lifestyle of urban Indians and the almost- daily foray of new consumer products are further complicating the waste management scenario in the country.

        Improper waste management causes clogging of drainages thereby leading to mosquito-breeding and then to diseases like malaria; damage of drains and septic tanks, harm to garbage collectors, spreading of unpleasant odour and environmental damage due to the presence of hazardous elements in them.

        The current practice of uncontrolled dumping of waste on the outskirts of towns/cities had created a serious environmental and public health problem. All these factors had brought the necessity to establish a good waste management system to reduce further damage to environment.

        The waste generated can be chiefly classified into three types and they are medical waste, municipal solid waste and electronic waste. Solid waste comprises things like cans, bottles, food waste generated at homes and institutions.

        Similarly bio-medical waste also called as infectious waste comprises wastes like soiled waste, disposables, anatomical waste, cultures, discarded medicines, chemical wastes, etc.

        The electronic waste comprises things like computer monitors, telephone instruments, keyboards, mobile phones and Ipods etc. Most of this waste were handled by the informal sector and that follows no norm and the waste is processed in a very fundamental fashion.

        The electronic waste is mostly processed in the backyard of low income group colonies.

        According to a study undertaken by an NGO recently, the per capita waste generated daily ranges from about 100 gm in small towns to 500 gm in large towns. Although, there is no national level data for waste generation, collection and disposal, and increase in solid waste generation, over the years, it can be studied in a few urban centres.

        Waste management, though an essential service, is given not much attention. Lack of financial resources, institutional weaknesses, improper choice of technology and public apathy towards solid waste have made this service far from satisfaction.

        Experts of waste management feel that awareness among the public is necessary to facilitate effective waste management. They are of the opinion that if public starts segregating the waste at their homes then it would make the job of the authorities easier and the waste reaching the dump yards would go down.

        Following a few suggestions like avoiding littering at all places, buying items in bulk at a time rather than buying in small quantities, buying fruits and making juices instead of canned juices, usage of reusable materials, carrying big bags so that things like carry bags can be avoided and donating used materials like clothes and magazines to orphanages so that they can be used again would subsequently reduce the waste generation.

        Satish Sinha, associate director of Toxics Link, a New Delhi-based NGO, speaking on the aspect of waste management, said effective waste management in this country was yet to pick up and take a definite shape. Waste management has been sent to the back seat. Issues like shortage of funds, lack of facilities had been the reasons for this he added.