IMPACT OF SOLID WASTE ON HUMAN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT IN INDIA – AN OVERVIEW

Globalization, Urbanization and Population growth are the main reasons and sole responsible for the ever high increasing rate of solid waste worldwide. Proper management of solid wastes is a major problem of the Municipal Corporation’s and Municipalities. Improper Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) disposal and management causes all types of pollution: air, water and soil. Indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes contaminates surface and ground water supplies. Green house gases are generated from the decomposition of organic wastes in landfills. Uncontrolled burning of MSW and improper incineration contributes significantly to urban Air pollution. The impacts of solid wastes are not only confined to environment but also affects human health. Insect and rodent vectors are attracted to the waste and can spread diseases such as cholera and dengue fever. Using water polluted by MSW for bathing, food irrigation and drinking water can also expose individuals to disease organisms and other contaminants. Open dumping, open burning and un-engineered sanitary landfills are common practice in many of the countries in the world. Due to improper solid waste disposal and collection systems dwellers are facing serious negative environmental and health impacts in developing countries. This paper highlights the MSW generation and management in India and major impacts associated with MSW on human health and environment.