waste management in goa essay

Turning trash to treasure: This woman-led waste management model in Goa is a success story

Goa has successfully transformed a towering landfill into an integrated solid waste management facility

By Rahul Jain

Published: friday 04 august 2023.

In a remarkable effort to address waste management challenges and protect its pristine beaches, Goa has successfully transformed a towering landfill into an integrated solid waste management facility. This facility in north Goa’s Saligao spans approximately 12 hectares and caters to waste generated at popular beaches like Bagha, Calangute and Anjuna as well as village Panchayats. 

The plant, which is operated on a public-private partnership model between the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) and Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd, has been a game-changer in sustainable waste management.

The facility’s inception in May 2016 marked a turning point for waste management in Goa, with an initial capacity to handle 120 tonnes per day (TPD) of waste. Over time, it has significantly expanded, doubling its capacity to 250 TPD by December 2021.

Also read: India’s compressed biogas sector needs a big push, says ETAC report

The impressive thing about the plant is that it is run under the leadership of Gargi Raote, who is among the few women to head a waste management plant in India. The integrated solid waste management facility employs an advanced approach to treat municipal solid waste.

Rohan Ghadi, engineer at GWMC, told  Down To Earth:

The plant receives segregated organic (wet) and inorganic (dry) fractions, which amount to 150 TPD and 100 TPD, respectively. The inorganic waste is separated into 16 different fractions, out of which some materials are recycled and others are used to generate refuse derived fuel (RDF). The produced RDF is supplied to cement factories in Maharashtra and Karnataka at zero cost.

The wet organic waste is used to produce biogas which is then converted to electricity. There are a total of three anaerobic-type thermophilic continuous stirred-tank reactors.

This plant generates 17,000 cubic metres of biogas per day (m3/day). Of this, 13,000 m3/day is utilised for power generation after removing moisture and hydrogen sulphide. Three gas engines (170 kilowatts, 600 KW, 600 KW) produce 1.37 megawatts (MW) of electricity daily from the biogas, delivering a monthly total of approximately 32 MW.

“The surplus electricity, approximately 20-22 MW, is supplied to the grid at a rate of Rs 5 per unit, and the rest is utilised to run the facility,” said Raote.

Additionally, 25-30 tonnes of sludge is produced per day, which is turned into solid compost (6-8 tonnes per day) in a covered aerated drying hall that covers an area of 4,000 square metres. The generated compost is sold at Rs 4 per kilogram and some part is distributed free of cost for social welfare, she added. 

“The initial setup capital cost of the facility was Rs 146 crore, with an additional investment of Rs 103 crore during the expansion to a capacity of 250 TPD. GWMC pays Rs 2209.6 + 18 per cent goods and services tax to Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd, for treating one tonne of waste,” Levinson J Martins, managing director of GWMC, told  DTE. 

There is no tipping fee levied on village Panchayats for depositing wet waste at the facility. These expenditures are justified by the considerable environmental benefits and electricity generation from the biogas plant, which operates continuously without failures, Martins added.

Also read:  Budget kick: Keep these factors in mind while setting up a Bio-CNG plant

The success of the plant can be attributed to several crucial factors. First and foremost, through the Department of Science, Technology and Waste Management, the Government of Goa demonstrated unwavering political will in forming GWMC. The entity, which is distinct from municipalities, is headed by the chief minister of Goa. 

Second, due to a consistent information, education and communication strategy employed by GWMC, the level of waste segregation has shown significant improvement — rising from 60 per cent in 2016 to an impressive 90 per cent presently. This has been a result of better awareness and education initiatives that encourage proper waste segregation.

Additionally, a plant monitoring committee comprising bureaucrats from technical backgrounds ensures regular monitoring and suggests solutions to operational challenges. Moreover, incentives tied to the plant’s performance have been offered to motivate GWMC staff, encouraging dedication and efficiency. 

Goa’s integrated solid waste processing plant stands as a testament to sustainable waste management practices. Its transformation from a landfill into a state-of-the-art facility demonstrates the positive impact that dedicated efforts and political will can achieve.

By effectively treating and generating electricity from waste while promoting waste segregation and community engagement, this plant serves as an inspiring model for other regions seeking to combat waste management challenges and embrace a greener future.

• Can Bio-CNG click: Indore plant reducing air pollution, but odour remains a challenge
• GOBAR-Dhan: Scheme announced in budget a welcome step, but challenges ahead

We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.

Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.

Monday 06 May 2024

Global Goenkar

• TG Life & Sunday
• FORGOTTEN FILES
• Saxtti Masala
• The Goan Home
•  : :   Global Goenkar
•  : :   Goa’s model on scientific waste management

Goa’s model on scientific waste management

The SWMF at Saligao serves as a best practice model for treating waste generated in a holistic manner while incorporating the needs of all stakeholders associated with waste management – village panchayats, informal sector and its employees

MeharKaur and ShabanaKazi | SEPTEMBER 12, 2020, 06:07 PM IST

Since its inception in 2016, the plant has received more than 1.6 lakh MT of waste, out of which 32% is dry waste, 45% organic waste,and 23% is mixed. About 99% of this waste is processed. If all this waste was dumped into a landfill, it would have covered an area equivalent to 3 football fields!

According to GHG Platform India’s time series data (2005 - 2015), the waste sector contributes to 5% of India’s total GHG emissions. This conservative estimate is only from waste disposed at landfills and does not account for mismanaged waste that is littered, burnt or dumped. Traditionally management of MSW is responsibility of municipalities and urban local bodies (ULBs) that are limited– technically, financially and operationally to function effectively. ULBs either require support from specialised organisations (private or public) to fulfil their waste management tasks or take it up on their own. In India, by and large these are the two approaches adopted by the cities to manage waste. 

Goa, however, has adopted a third approach – to create its own specialised vehicle to oversee waste management at the state level and make it accountable to the highest level of the administrative hierarchy in the state – the Chief Minister.  

Goa Waste Management Corporation or GWMC is a Special Purpose Vehicle set up to overlook all matters related to SWM in the state. A major achievement is the establishment and management of the integrated solid waste management facility (SWMF) at Saligao since 2016 where only residual waste ends up in the sanitary landfill. The state-of-the-art facility is retrofitted onto a remediated old legacy waste dumpsite. 

Currently, the facility manages 125 TPD of waste as per SWM Rules 2016 with Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd. For maximum resource and energy recovery, the SWMF has a material recovery facility for sorting and recycling dry waste, a waste-to-energy facility converting organic fraction into biogas and electricity, generating sufficient energy to power the plant; an in-vessel composting facility; and safe handling of residual, inert material. The plant recycles its effluents with a net zero liquid discharge. The residual inert material that goes to the sanitary landfill is approximately 3 per cent although 10 per cent was allowed under the concession agreement. 

Cumulatively, through its activities over four years - recycling, substituting coal with RDF, and managing waste with anaerobic digestion, plant has reduced about 35,000 million tCO2-eq. emissions.Further, the Salmona spring which was earlier polluted, has since improved its water quality due to scientific management of waste at the facility.GWMC also provides technical support to various ULBs and panchayats. 

The Saligao planthoweverhas to overcome some challenges. The facility is expensive and has high operational and maintenance costs. A sustained source of funding is needed to ensure smooth functioning overtime.As of now the facility caters to only waste generated in 27 villages in North Goa. But one facility is not enough for the entire state’s SWM. Also, having a government-owned SPV does not indicate that local bodies are free of their waste management responsibilities. It’s a co-operation model. 

The onus of source segregation and collection lies on waste generators and its enforcement on ULBs/ panchayats. If local bodies don’t have collection systems, littering and leakages into water bodies can be high. Tourist spots generate more waste however and there is institutional pressure to keep these places clean. Not all panchayatshave been able to enforce segregation strictly; also there is resistance from villagers who don't pay for waste collection services. In some villages, open burning or dumping in nearby drains is common practice. 

The GWMC model showcases that a SPV with ownership at the highest level of administration can turn things around for waste management especially if those at the helm of affairs are technically qualified, trained, motivated and dedicated. It can build technical capacities and improve the socio-economic status of the informal sector working in the waste sector. However, the success of waste management lies in a co-operative and participatory approach. It applies to any GWMC like model. Hence, active participation of citizens, ULBs, VPs and all other stakeholders in waste management is a must to achieve a sustainable waste management ecosystem in Goa. 

*Kaur is research associate, Environment and Waste Management, TERI; Kazi is fellow, Environment Education and Awareness Area, TERI. ** The article has inputs from VaibhavRathi, technical advisor-Climate Change, GIZ. Views expressed are personal.

Brazilian, French, Goan connection to promote Tabebuia trees in Goa

Mapusa school honours its past pupil as ‘Goan ambassador’ in UK

Karachi’s gift of 14 Goan-origin Jesuits to Gujarat

After serving in Indian Navy, Goan mentors students in Canada

Goans celebrate Carnival in Delhi

4 goans commended for outstanding presentation at hci events in london.

• Campaigning ends; CEO eyes 80 per cent turnout
• Deciphering Goa's political showdown: BJP’s aggressive blitz versus Cong grit
• INDI Alliance, BJP eye key players’ crucial role for lead in Salcete as campaign ends
• BJP pins hopes on ‘Operation Lotus’ in Salcete
• Tawadkar sees no opposition to Pallavi in Canacona
• Can strict regulations raise tourism standards in Goa?

Scanning the Goa garbage scenario

Introduction.

Although Goa has emerged as one of the most progressive states in the country, it continues to face an enormous task of managing its solid waste in a sustainable manner. Urbanization and changing lifestyles are steadily increasing the quantities and altering the nature of solid waste being generated in the state. The situation is worsened as it is a tourist destination and the necessary infrastructure and institutional mechanisms rendering waste management services are placed under increasing pressures.

THE GOA GARBAGE SCENARIO

The main sources of solid waste in the state are domestic households, commercial establishments, markets, hotels, restaurants, other tourist-related sources (such as off shore casinos), construction activities, medical facilities, mining, and other industrial activities. Although there is a legal framework for waste management, there is a pressing need to effectively translate regulation into meaningful action on the ground.

Some of the bottlenecks impeding effective implementation are inadequate institutional capacity and infrastructure, apathy on the part of service providers, poor civic sense, NIMBY (not in my backyard) syndrome, etc. This has led to indiscriminate burning and dumping of waste across the state. The situation is more pronounced in rural areas, which in reality are peri-urban areas with lifestyle, consumption and waste generation patterns on par with the urban areas of the state. Increasing amounts of non-biodegradable waste especially plastic, cartons, other disposable items in tourist regions, along with poor waste collection efficiency and inefficient transportation and disposal facilities are exacerbating the problem in Goa’s coastal villages posing a serious threat to the tourist industry of the state.

As per a 2011 Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) report on Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), the total waste generated across the municipal areas in the state is approximately 214 tons per day. Panaji, Margao, Mormugao and Mapusa are the major ones, generating 55, 50, 45, and 15 metric tonnes per day (MTD) of MSW, respectively. There is no authentic data available on the waste generation and its disposal in the 190 village panchayats of Goa. Touristic coastal villages and semi urban areas such as villages and towns on the fringes of cities are also generating high amounts of solid waste easily on par with an average urban resident. A GSPCB 2012 report estimates that the twenty six coastal based panchayats together generate on an average almost 50 MTD of waste in their jurisdictions during the peak season.

Estimates suggest that across the whole state including the villages, the waste generation figure could be in the range of 400 MTD. Considering 40-55% of this waste to be non-biodegradable, we are looking at almost 60,000-80,000 MTA (metric tonnes per annum) of non-biodegradable waste with enormous recycling potential. Unfortunately, the current composting and recycling rates are extremely poor in the state rendering waste to remain largely as - waste i.e. a discard, rather than a resource.

However, with the integrated solid waste management plant recently set up at Saligao, North Goa and the other plant planned at Cacora-Curchorem there is much hope for the situation to change. The next article will look at the way forward and suggest various best practices that can be undertaken.

FACTS & FIGURES

The estimated solid waste generation in the country is around 1.43 lakh tonnes per day as per a recent Central Pollution Control Board report. Maharashtra generates over 26,820 tonnes of solid waste per day, more than any other state in the country.

A waste management study by Ranjith Annepu in 2012 estimated urban India's per capita waste generation rate to be 500 grams per person per day. The same study estimated Goa's per capita generation to be 0.62 kg/day and comparable to the larger Indian cities of Greater Kolkata (0.66 kg/day), Greater Hyderabad and Delhi (each with o.6sKg/day).

In Goa, Panaji, Margao, Mormugao and Mapusa together contribute to almost 75-80 per cent of the total waste generated in the municipal jurisdictions of Goa.

Subscribe to our Newsletter!

Sewage Treatment and Management in Goa, India: A Case Study

• Original Paper
• Published: 23 November 2015
• Volume 8 , pages 67–77, ( 2016 )

Cite this article

• A. Singh 1 ,
• A. Kazmi 2 ,
• M. Starkl 3 ,
• I. Bawa 4 ,
• P. Khale 4 ,
• V. Patil 5 ,
• I. Nimkar 6 &
• M. Naik 6  

842 Accesses

6 Citations

Explore all metrics

Water pollution in India is primarily associated with unmanaged urbanization, population explosion, inadequate capacity of sewage treatment, and its disposal, which lead to unhygienic and insanitary conditions. This paper gives an overview on sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Goa—a coastal state in India. Being a famous tourist destination, it is important to monitor and control water pollution levels in Goa state, so as to safeguard the health of tourists and thereby the economy of the region. The capacity-wise distribution of STPs was mapped against regional population distribution and drainage system of Goa using ArcGIS. This information will be very useful for further analysis of the allocation of STPs and its adequacy with regard to the population. A majority of STPs at Goa are managed by private authorities like hotels and resorts. Four municipal plants under Goa Public Works Department were evaluated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Impact of Redevelopment Projects on Waste Water Infrastructure

River rejuvenation in urban India for enhancing living conditions through integrated water resources management

Remediation of Contaminated Urban Streams: A Decentralized Ecological Wastewater Treatment Approach

Abood AR, Jiangkun DJB, Zheng YLD (2014) Non-biodegradable landfill le achate treatment by combined process of agitation, coagulation, SBR and filtration. Waste Manag 34:439–447

Article   CAS   Google Scholar  

Arnold E, Bohm B, Wilderer PA (2000) Application of activated sludge and biofilm sequencing batch reactor technology to treat reject water sludge dewatering systems: a comparison. Water Sci Technol 41:115–122

CAS   Google Scholar  

Benujah BR, Devi G (2013) Site suitability evaluation for sewage treatment plant in Nagercoil municipality, Tamil Nadu using remote sensing techniques. Available at http://www.nrsc.gov.in/pdf/ben.pdf

Borker DJS (2013) Sewerage scenario in the state of Goa. Public Works Department, Government of Goa

Bunch MJ, Kumaran TV, Joseph R (2012) Using geographic information systems (GIS) for spatial planning and environmental management in India: critical considerations. Int J Appl Sci Technol 2(2):40–54

Google Scholar  

Burrough PA, McDonnell Rachael A (1998) Principles of geographical information systems. Oxford University Press, New York

Census Info India (2011) http://www.devinfolive.info/censusinfodashboard/website/index.php/pages/sanitation/total/Households/IND . Accessed 18 November 2011

Census info India (2014) Census data online. Available at http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-common/censusdataonline.html

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) (2005) Status of sewage treatment in India. http://www.cpcb.nic.in/newitems/12.pdf

Commission (2011) Goa Development Report, Government of India

Department of Tourism Government of GOA (2011–2012) Annual administration report for the year 2010–2011

Department of Tourism Government of GOA (2012–2013) Annual administration report for the year 2012–2013

Ding D, Feng C, Jin Y, Hao C, Zhao Y, Suemura T (2011) Domestic sewage treatment in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) with an intelligent controlling system. Desalination 276:260–265

ENVIS Centre (2012) National status of waste water generation & treatment. Sewage Treatment Systems and Technology, Ministry of Environment and Forests Sanitation. http://www.sulabhenvis.nic.in/Database/STST_wastewater_2090.aspx . Accessed 20 November 2013

The Environment (Protection) Rule (1986) Available at http://jkforest.gov.in/act/Environment_Protection_Rules.pdf

Gieseke A, Arnz P, Amann R, Schramm A (2002) Simultaneous P and N removal in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor: insights from reactor- andmicroscale investigations. Water Res 36:501–509

Government of Goa, Department of Tourism, About Goa. http://www.goatourism.gov.in/ . Accessed 21 November 2013

IL&FS Infrastructure (2012) Identification of tourism circuits across India, interim report Goa

Indian Sanitation Portal (2013) Sanitation programme makes slow headway in rural Goa. http://indiasanitationportal.org . Accessed June 25 2013

Jamwal P, Mittal AK (2010) Reuse of treated sewage in Delhi city: microbial evaluation of STPs and reuse options. Resour Conserv Recycl 54:211–221

Article   Google Scholar  

Kamyotra JS, Bhardwaj RM (2011) Municipal wastewater management in India. Available at http://www.idfc.com/pdf/report/2011/Chp-20-Municipal-Wastewater-Management-In-India.pdf

Martin-Cereceda M, Serrano S, Guinea A (1996) A comparative study of ciliated protozoa communities in activated sludge plants. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 21:267–276

McCarty PL, Brodersen CF (1962) Theory of extended aeration activated sludge. J Water Pollut Control Fed 34:1095–1103

Middlebrooks and Gardland (1968) Kinetics of model and field extended-aeration wastewater treatment units. J Water Pollut Control Fed 40:586–612

Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) (2011–2012) Performance audit of water pollution in India. Comptroller and Auditor General of India Report No. 21

Morrison EM, Motter K, Baxter K (2004) Quality assurance plan. Willamette Research Station Analytical Laboratory, Water Chemistry Laboratory Manual. http://water.epa.gov/type/rsl/monitoring/upload/2005_03_14_monitoring_wsa_WRS_lab_manual.pdf . Accessed 24 Feb 2013

Patil JA, Kulkarni SS (2012) Design and mapping of underground sewerage network in GIS, a case study of Islampur Town. Int J Sci Res 3(8):2319–7064

Public Works Department (PWD) GOA (2005) Review on water supply and sanitation programmes, CHAPTER-III performance reviews

Report of Golden Jubilee Development Council (2012) GOA 2035: vision and road map. Available at http://dhe.goa.gov.in/GGJDC_Report.pdf

Sarti A, Fernandes BS, Zaiat M, Foresti E (2007) Anaerobic sequencing batch reactors in pilot-scale for domestic sewage treatment. Desalination 217:174–182

Sewage Business Management Centre (2015) Available at https://www.sbmc.or.jp/english/index.html

Sewage & Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd. (SIDCGL) (2013) Status of sewage treatment plants in the state of Goa. http://www.sidcgl.com/aboutus.php . Accessed 19 November 2013

Tyagi VK, Subramaniyan S, Kazmi AA, Chopra AK (2008) Microbial community in conventional and extended aeration activated sludge plants in India. Ecol Ind 8:550–554

Van Haandel A, Lettinga G (1994) Anaerobic sewage treatment. Wiley, New York

Von Sperling M, Chernicharo CAL (2005) Biological wastewater treatment in warm climate regions. IWA Publishing, London

Wilderer PA, Roske I, Ueberschar A, Davids L (1993) Continuous flow and sequenced batch operation of biofilm reactors: a comparative study of shock loading responses. Biofouling 6:295–304

Wu GX, Michael N, Ketil S, Zhan XM, Michael R (2009) Distributions and activities of ammonia oxidizing bacteria and polyphosphate accumulating organisms in a pumped-flow bio-film reactor. Water Res 43:4599–4609

Download references

Acknowledgments

The work presented in the paper has been supported by the Department of Science and Technology and European Union, Project Supporting consolidation, replication and up-scaling of sustainable wastewater treatment, and reuse technologies for India (SARASWATI).

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Industrial Safety and Environmental Management, National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai, India

Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, India

Competence Centre for Decision Aid in Environmental Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria

Supporting Consolidation, Replication and Upscaling of Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technologies in India (SARASWATI), National Institute of Industrial Engineering, NITIE, Mumbai, India

I. Bawa & P. Khale

National Institute of Industrial Engineering, NITIE, Mumbai, India

Centre for Environnemental Studies (CES), National Institute of Industrial Engineering, NITIE, Mumbai, India

I. Nimkar & M. Naik

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Singh .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Singh, A., Kazmi, A., Starkl, M. et al. Sewage Treatment and Management in Goa, India: A Case Study. Expo Health 8 , 67–77 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-015-0183-5

Download citation

Received : 27 July 2015

Revised : 28 October 2015

Accepted : 28 October 2015

Published : 23 November 2015

Issue Date : March 2016

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-015-0183-5

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

[totaldonations]

Municipal Solid Waste Management in Goa

Posted by Connor on 15 October 2018

This report outlines how each of Goa’s municipal bodies handles waste collection. For each municipality, data on total waste is broken down by type, as well as any fees charged to households or businesses for receiving waste collection services. An outline of each city and village’s collection scheme is detailed, along with an action plan for improved waste removal and treatment across all panchayats.

Click here to open PDF:  Municipal Solid Waste Management

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Other Articles

The Love for birds – David Stanton

There has been so much happening in the development...

Recent Projects in GOA

Act for Goa gets Felicitated

All about the #MakaNakaPlastic Campaign

Volunteers needed at your area.

Want to take action or join a local campaign? Become a proud volunteer with Act4Goa!

ActforGoa is envisioned as a platform belonging to everyone who loves Goa. The content you find here is the collective work of a vast array of people. ActforGoa will strive to promote content that is well meaning and factual, and will censor personal attacks, slander or attempts at defamation. Kokum Trust is the legal managing entity for Act for Goa

Important Links

• Celebrating Culture
• Human Rights
• Living Sustainably
• Managing Waste
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Refund & Cancellation (for Donors)
• Planning Infrastructure
• Preserving Water
• Protecting Nature
• Safeguarding Agriculture

Don’t miss the latest updates

Be part of the ACTforGOA community

Copyright © 2018 ActforGoa. All Rights Reserved.

Goa Waste Management Corporation

Introduction :

The Government of Goa under the aegis of the Department of Science, Technology and Waste Management has formed the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) and entrusted it to look after the overall management of all types of wastes, secondary collection of dry non-biodegradable waste from Village Panchayats, Municipalities, State & Central Government Institutions, Industrial Estates and other organizations for its safe and scientific disposal. Further, the State Government has mandated GWMC to prepare a holistic Solid Waste Management Policy for the State. It has set an ambitious goal of achieving Zero-Waste and Zero Landfill philosophy adopted by the State. This, amongst others, envisages a State with high social awareness on waste and public space hygiene at par with the best tourist destinations in the world.

GWMC works for securing and assisting in the orderly establishment and organization of facilities to manage solid waste and other types of waste It is also aimed to provide guidance and assistance to local bodies and organisations in terms of technology and methodology. The vision of the GWMC is to create a Zero Waste Goa. The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has initiated steps to prepare a solid waste management policy for the State and to draw up a plan for managing and handling garbage scientifically with a long term perspective.

The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) functions from their office located within the premises of Hindustan Waste Treatment Plant Pvt. Ltd. at Saligao plateau, Saligao, Bardez, Goa and is instrumental in co-ordinating all activities pertaining to solid waste throughout the state.

Department :

• Orders and Circulars

• PIO & APIOs
• Public Grievance Officer / Vigilance Officer

GWMC Journey

Emergence and formulation, photo gallery.

The Goa garbage scene: A lot left to be done

Visual Stories

Charles Correa Foundation

Education and Research in Human Settlements

WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN GOA

Location: Goa Status: Completed Year of Completion: 2016

CCF recently undertook this project because Goa has been experiencing an increasing solid waste management problem. There are numerous factors contributing to this problem, ranging from weak institutional support to problems with governance, inadequately managed and uncontrolled dump sites, and lack of awareness of disposal and treatment methods. All of this means that Goa, once admired for its pristine environment, is now littered with garbage, and its water resources contaminated and unsafe for drinking or use in the paddy fields.

There are multiple stakeholders in the Waste Management System and all of them feel the strain of this problem at some level. The administration is faced with the challenge of operating and maintaining a Waste Management System with limited funding while trying to increase efficiency. Added to that are the insufficient infrastructure, the low technical expertise of the staff, lack of a workforce in the primary and secondary waste process and a prolonged bureaucratic process for kick-starting any new initiatives.

Part A of this project consisted of a preliminary study of the solid waste management systems practiced across the state of Goa, which allowed us to also identify the gaps in the process. Next, we will consider solutions for addressing these gaps and submit a policy proposal to reduce plastic waste, consolidate waste, and implement grassroots waste collection systems that complement the new infrastructure provided by the state government.

Share this:

• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Discover more from Charles Correa Foundation

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

Essay on Waste Management

• Updated on  
• May 11, 2023

Every year, the amount of waste is doubling because of the increasing population around the world. The 3Rs, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle should be followed to help in waste management. Waste management is the need of the hour and should be followed by individuals globally. This is also a common essay topic in the school curriculum and various academic and competitive exams like IELTS , TOEFL , SAT , UPSC , etc. In this blog, let us explore how to write an essay on Waste Management.

This Blog Includes:

Tips for writing an essay on waste management , what is the meaning of waste management, essay on waste management in 200 words, essay on waste management in 300 words .

To write an impactful and scoring essay, here are some tips on how to manage waste and write a good essay:

• The initial step is to write an introduction or background information about the topic
• You must use a formal style of writing and avoid using slang language.
• To make an essay more impactful, write dates, quotations, and names to provide a better understanding
• You can use jargon wherever it is necessary, as it sometimes makes an essay complicated
• To make an essay more creative, you can also add information in bulleted points wherever possible
• Always remember to add a conclusion where you need to summarise crucial points
• Once you are done, read through the lines and check spelling and grammar mistakes before submission

Waste management is the management of waste by disposal and recycling of it. It requires proper techniques while keeping in mind the environmental situations. For example, there are various methods and techniques through which the waste is disposed of. Some of these are Landfills, Recycling, Composting, etc. These methods are useful in disposing of waste without causing any harm to the environment.

Sample Essays  on Waste Management

To help you write a perfect essay that would help you score well, here are some sample essays to give you an idea about the same.

One of the crucial aspects of today’s society is waste management. Due to a surge in population, the waste is generated in millions of tons day by day and affects the lives of a plethora of people across the globe. Mostly the affected people live in slums that are extremely close to the waste disposal areas; thus, they are highly prone to communicable and non-communicable diseases. These people are deprived of necessities to maintain a healthy life, including sanitation and proper hygiene. 

There are various methods and techniques for disposing of waste including Composting, Landfills, Recycling, and much more. These methods are helpful in disposing of waste without being harmful to the environment. Waste management is helpful in protecting the environment and creating safety of the surrounding environment for humans and animals. The major health issue faced by people across the world is environmental pollution and this issue can only be solved or prevented by proper waste management so that a small amount of waste is there in the environment. One of the prominent and successful waste management processes, recycling enables us not only in saving resources but also in preventing the accumulation of waste. Therefore it is very important to teach and execute waste management.

The basic mantra of waste management is” Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, Repurpose, and Recycle”. Waste management is basically the collection or accumulation of waste and its disposal. This process involves the proper management of waste including recycling waste generated and even generating useful renewable energy from it. One of the most recent initiatives taken by various countries at the local, national and international levels, waste management is a way of taking care of planet earth. This responsible act helps in providing a good and stable environment for the present and future generations. In India, most animals get choked and struggle till death because they consume waste on the streets.

So far many lives are lost, not only animals but also humans due to a lack of proper waste management. There are various methods and techniques for disposing of waste including Composting, Landfills, Recycling, and much more. These methods are helpful in disposing of waste without being harmful to the environment. Waste management is helpful in protecting the environment and creating safety of the surrounding environment for humans and animals. This process of waste management evolved due to industrialization as prior to these inventions simple burying was sufficient for disposing of waste.

One of the crucial things to control waste is creating awareness among people and this can only be achieved only when the governments and stakeholders in various countries take this health issue seriously. To communicate with various communities and reach each end of the country, the message can be communicated through media and related platforms. People also need to participate in waste management procedures by getting self-motivated and taking care of activities of daily living. These steps to create consciousness about waste management are crucial to guarantee the success and welfare of the people and most importantly our planet earth.

Check Out Popular Essay Topics

• Essay on Population Explosion
• Essay on My Hobby
• Essay on Human Rights
• Essay On Sikkim
• Essay on Disaster Management
• Essay on Democracy
• Essay on Child Labour
• Essay on Global Warming
• Essay on Women’s Empowerment
• Essay on My Aim in Life
• Essay on India
• Essay on Education System

We hope this blog has helped you structure a terrific essay on waste management. Planning to ace your IELTS, get expert tips from coaches at Leverage Live by Leverage Edu .

Sonal is a creative, enthusiastic writer and editor who has worked extensively for the Study Abroad domain. She splits her time between shooting fun insta reels and learning new tools for content marketing. If she is missing from her desk, you can find her with a group of people cracking silly jokes or petting neighbourhood dogs.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Leaving already?

8 Universities with higher ROI than IITs and IIMs

Grab this one-time opportunity to download this ebook

Connect With Us

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

September 2024

January 2025

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Essay on Waste Management for Students and Teacher

500+ essay on waste management.

Essay on Waste Management -Waste management is essential in today’s society. Due to an increase in population, the generation of waste is getting doubled day by day. Moreover, the increase in waste is affecting the lives of many people.

For instance, people living in slums are very close to the waste disposal area. Therefore there are prone to various diseases. Hence, putting their lives in danger. In order to maintain a healthy life, proper hygiene and sanitation are necessary. Consequently, it is only possible with proper waste management .

The Meaning of Waste Management

Waste management is the managing of waste by disposal and recycling of it. Moreover, waste management needs proper techniques keeping in mind the environmental situations. For instance, there are various methods and techniques by which the waste is disposed of. Some of them are Landfills, Recycling , Composting, etc. Furthermore, these methods are much useful in disposing of the waste without causing any harm to the environment.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Methods for Waste Management

Recycling – Above all the most important method is the recycling of waste. This method does not need any resources. Therefore this is much useful in the management of waste . Recycling is the reusing of things that are scrapped of. Moreover, recycling is further converting waste into useful resources.

Landfills – Landfills is the most common method for waste management. The garbage gets buried in large pits in the ground and then covered by the layer of mud. As a result, the garbage gets decomposed inside the pits over the years. In conclusion, in this method elimination of the odor and area taken by the waste takes place.

Composting – Composting is the converting of organic waste into fertilizers. This method increases the fertility of the soil. As a result, it is helpful in more growth in plants. Furthermore it the useful conversion of waste management that is benefiting the environment.

Advantages of Waste Management

There are various advantages of waste management. Some of them are below:

Decrease bad odor – Waste produces a lot of bad odor which is harmful to the environment. Moreover, Bad odor is responsible for various diseases in children. As a result, it hampers their growth. So waste management eliminates all these problems in an efficient way.

Reduces pollution – Waste is the major cause of environmental degradation. For instance, the waste from industries and households pollute our rivers. Therefore waste management is essential. So that the environment may not get polluted. Furthermore, it increases the hygiene of the city so that people may get a better environment to live in.

Reduces the production of waste -Recycling of the products helps in reducing waste. Furthermore, it generates new products which are again useful. Moreover, recycling reduces the use of new products. So the companies will decrease their production rate.

It generates employment – The waste management system needs workers. These workers can do various jobs from collecting to the disposing of waste. Therefore it creates opportunities for the people that do not have any job. Furthermore, this will help them in contributing to society.

Produces Energy – Many waste products can be further used to produce energy. For instance, some products can generate heat by burning. Furthermore, some organic products are useful in fertilizers. Therefore it can increase the fertility of the soil.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

• Waste Management

An Introduction

Waste Management or disposal includes processing and disposing of Waste starting right from its point of inception to complete disposal. Waste can be solid or liquid and sometimes even gas. It can be domestic, industrial, biomedical, municipal or radioactive Waste. Each different type of Waste has a specific disposal method and they can be classified as:

Landfill: A huge dumping ground for garbage usually located away from a city. Every kind of solid waste is disposed of in a landfill.

Incineration: Waste from municipalities and solid residue from Wastewater treatment are disposed of by resorting to combustion which converts them to residue and gaseous products. It is not an eco-friendly method as combustion leads to the release of greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide.

Recycle, Reduce, Re-use

The three R’s of Waste Management, i.e., Reduce reuse and Recycle should be followed at every place possible. These methods of Waste Management are mostly environment friendly and help avoid resorting to Waste Management measures like landfill and incineration that are harmful to humans as well as the environment.

There are numerous benefits of recycling. Recycling helps recover resources that can be used to make use of them in a different way. New products can be made by recycling general Waste. Solid Wastes like wood, glass, plastic, electronic devices, clothing and leather items can be Recycled. 

Wastes that are organic in nature can be Recycled and reused, often as manure or fertilizer for agriculture by the method of decomposition. Food scraps, plant products (such as cow dung) and carcasses, paper products are the most reusable for making manure.

Some Waste items that contain plastic such as polythene bags, bottles, pipes, etc. don't decompose easily and can pile up as a landfill for many years, sometimes ending up in the ocean and killing animals who choke on them accidentally. The use of such products that are harmful to everyone should be Reduced. Alternative options have been developed to Reduce the use of plastic such as jute bags instead of polythene bags, paper straws and packaging to be used in place of those made of plastic are a few to name. 

FAQs on Waste Management

1. What are the Challenges Faced in Waste Management? 

One of the major challenges associated with waste management is solid waste management due to an increase in industrialization. The waste disposal is only rising and in cities with high population faces the wrath of this even more as with time there is deterioration in the natural environment and thus the health of the working class.

2. How can One Tackle this Problem of Waste Management?

The most effective way to resolve this problem is by reducing the production of waste itself; one can do that by composting the food and garden waste or by segregating and sending for recycling. The other important way is by addressing the public on the importance of waste management and its benefits to the environment.

3. What are the sources of Waste?

Waste accumulates in our everyday life from different sources. Households, industries and factories produce both solid and liquid Waste, hospitals and laboratories produce biomedical Wastes like syringes, gauge pads, etc., agricultural fields and farms produce agricultural Waste that includes dung, hay, etc., and even educational institutes like schools and colleges generate some amount of Waste which are called commercial Wastes.

4. What are the types of Waste?

There are mainly two types of Wastes:

Biodegradable Waste: These kinds of Waste are usually generated from the kitchen and are mostly organic in nature and can be decomposed to make manure that is generally used for composting in the garden.

Non-Biodegradable Waste: Wastes that do not decompose easily such as plastic and glass, accumulate in the environment and harm animal life.

5. Why is Waste Management important?

Waste created by different sources in the environment has the potential to harm humans and animals alike by spreading diseases when the Waste is not taken care of through disposal. Animals grazing in the field or unsuspecting water animals can get tangled and die of suffocation from non-biodegradable Waste products like plastic bottles and straws or polythene bags. Waste Management is important to Reduce the effect of Waste on the environment as well as for building livable and sustainable cities through recycling, reusing and reducing Waste materials.

To know more about Waste Management, hop on to Vedantu's website or app and get free study materials! Download now!

6. How can individuals help in Waste Management?

Individuals can take small steps in everyday life to help Reduce the amount of Waste generated through households by reusing materials wherever possible and buying environment-friendly products as well as those which are recyclable in the future. Waste Management also includes the separation of Wastes according to the type of Waste such as solid Waste or liquid Waste, and segregating and disposing of them safely.

7. What is the role of the government in Waste Management?

Starting from municipalities, the local body has the responsibility to process and dispose of Waste from every source and take sanitary measures for keeping a city clean for healthy living. 

Governments can set standards and regulate industrial Waste by encouraging research on Waste product reduction as well as safe elimination and they can also impose penalties or fines for not being able to meet standards for Waste generation and Management thus keeping the factories in check.

They can promote drives on the usefulness of recycling and reusing in rural areas which are the main sources of agricultural Waste. They should also encourage students to learn Waste Management for more sustainable and holistic growth of the future environment.