Name: Sujal Rajvansh

USN: 20BTRCD017
Branch: CSE – Data

Solid Waste Management (SWM): Case Studies at an

Educational Campus and in the Neighbourhood of Panihati,
North 24 Pargana, West Bengal, India.

Problem Statement:
Solid Waste Management System (SWMS) is a significant challenge for the
Global Waste Management Industry. The study focuses on a self-financing
institute of technology located at Panihati, a suburb near Kolkata. The SWMS
outside the institute campus under a category Panihati Municipality within
Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA) is very poor, creating a horrible and
absolutely unhygienic environmental condition. The study aims to unveil the
reasons behind this contrast with the lush green, clean campus inside as
maintained by the institute owner.

The study reveals several lacunas in the existing government-run system,

including inadequate facilities, manpower resources, management techniques,
and technologies. In contrast, the private management of the institute campus
has adopted a well-planned and systematic waste management approach,
including segregation, collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal.

The study concludes that greater public awareness and application of systematic
waste management techniques are essential to meet the challenges of present-
day SWMS successfully.

Introduction:
Solid waste management is a major challenge for cities around the world. The
rapid growth of population and urbanization is putting a strain on existing
systems. In India, the situation is particularly acute. According to the World
Bank, India generates over 62 million tons of solid waste per year.
The Contrast:
Name: Sujal Rajvansh
USN: 20BTRCD017
Branch: CSE – Data

In contrast to the poor SWMS of Panihati Municipality, the nearby self-

financing institute of technology has a lush green and clean campus. The
institute's private management has adopted a well-planned and systematic waste
management approach. The campus has designated areas for waste segregation,
collection, and storage. The waste is then transported to a treatment and disposal
facility.

The Reasons:
The study reveals several reasons for the contrast between the SWMS of
Panihati Municipality and the institute of technology. The main reason is that
the municipality's SWMS is government-run. Government-run systems are
often plagued by inefficiency and corruption. In contrast, the institute's SWMS
is privately managed. Private companies are more likely to be efficient and
effective because they are motivated by profit.
The Lacunas:
The study reveals several lacunas in the existing government-run SWMS of
Panihati Municipality. These include:

 Inadequate facilities: The municipality does not have enough garbage

bins and dumpsters.
 Inadequate manpower resources: The municipality does not have
enough staff to collect and transport the waste.
 Poor management techniques: The municipality does not have a
systematic approach to waste management.
 Inadequate technologies: The municipality does not have the latest
technologies for waste treatment and disposal.
The Private Management:
The private management of the institute of technology has adopted a well-
planned and systematic waste management approach. The campus has
designated areas for waste segregation, collection, and storage. The waste is
then transported to a treatment and disposal facility.
Segregation:
Name: Sujal Rajvansh
USN: 20BTRCD017
Branch: CSE – Data
Segregation is the first step in any waste management system. It involves
separating the waste into different categories, such as recyclable materials,
organic waste, and hazardous waste. The institute of technology has designated
areas for each type of waste. This makes it easy to collect and transport the
waste.
Collection:
The institute of technology has a regular schedule for waste collection. The
waste is collected from the designated areas and transported to a treatment and
disposal facility.
Transportation:
The institute of technology has a fleet of vehicles for transporting the waste.
The vehicles are properly equipped to prevent the spread of disease.

Treatment and Disposal:

The institute of technology has a contract with a private company for the
treatment and disposal of the waste. The company uses the latest technologies to
treat and dispose of the waste in an environmentally friendly manner.
Public Awareness:
The institute of technology has organized several awareness programs to
educate the students and staff about the importance of waste management. The
programs have been successful in raising awareness about the issue and
encouraging people to adopt good waste management practices.
Recommendations:
The study recommends the following for improving the SWMS of Panihati
Municipality:
 Increase funding: The municipality should increase its funding for
SWMS so that it can purchase more garbage bins, dumpsters, and
vehicles. It should also hire more staff.
 Adopt a systematic approach: The municipality should develop a
systematic approach to waste management. This should include
segregation, collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal.
Name: Sujal Rajvansh
USN: 20BTRCD017
Branch: CSE – Data
 Invest in new technologies: The municipality should invest in the latest
technologies for waste treatment and disposal. This will help to reduce
the environmental impact of the waste.

Conclusions:
The study concludes that greater public awareness and application of systematic
waste management techniques are essential to meet the challenges of present-
day SWMS successfully.

The study also concludes that the private management of the institute of
technology is more efficient and effective than the government-run SWMS of
Panihati Municipality. The institute's private management has adopted a well-
planned and systematic waste management approach, including segregation,
collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal.

The study recommends that Panihati Municipality increase its funding for
SWMS, adopt a systematic approach, and invest in new technologies. The
municipality should also learn from the private management of the institute of
technology and adopt some of its best practices.

By implementing the recommendations of the study, Panihati Municipality can

improve its SWMS and create a cleaner and healthier environment for its
residents.