Seat No:
Ahmednagar Jilha Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj’s
Shri dhokeshwar college, takali dhokeshwar
Community Engagement And Service or Programme Report
on
THE WASTE MANAGEMENT.
SUBMITTED TO
SAVITRIBAI PHULE PUNE UNIVERSITY
IN THE PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT OF [Link] IN PHYSICS
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
Asst. Prof. Gaikwad S.B
(Department of physics)
SUBMITTED BY
PAYMODE SONALI ASHOK
THROUGH
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
1
AMEDNAGAR JILHA MARATHA VIDYA PRASARAK SAMAJ’S
SHRI DHOKESHWAR COLLEGE, TAKALI DHOKESHWAR
(AFFILIATED TO SAVITRIBAI PHULE PUNE UNIVERSITY)
CERTIFICATE
I hereby certify that Miss. PAYMODE SONALI ASHOK
Student of SHRI DHOKESHWAR COLLEGE, TAKALI DHOKESHWAR
Institute studying in [Link] has completed a project titled “The Waste
Management” in the area of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY in PHYSICS
specialization for the academic year 2025-2026. To the best of my knowledge
the work of the student is original and the information included in the project
is correct.
Guide Head of the Department
(Asst. Prof. Gaikwad S. B.) (Asst. Prof. Gaikwad S.B.)
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Declaration
I, Miss. PAYMODE SONALI ASHOK Student of SHRI DHOKESHWAR
COLLEGE, TAKALI DHOKESHWAR Institute studying in [Link] hereby declare
that I have completed the field project entitled “ The Waste Management”
during the academic year 2025-2026. The report work is original and the
information/data included in the report is true emerging from the primary
and/ secondary data gathered and analyzed as part of this project. Due credit
is extended on the work of Literature/Secondary Survey by endorsing it in the
Bibliography as per prescribed format.
PAYMODE SONALI ASHOK
[Link]
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AKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank my project guide Asst. Prof. Rode P. A. for his guidance and
scholarly advice imparted throughout this project report. Without his help it would nothing
been possible to reach at this stage of my report. Also I am extremely thankful to
our respected Dr. Laxman Matkar, Principal, Shri Dhokeshwar College for their motivation,
inspiration and co-operation for providing College facilities like computer with internet,
laboratory instruments, Library books etc. towards completion of my project report. I would
like to thankful to Asst. Prof. Gaikwad S.B., Head, Department of Physics, Shri Dhokeshwar
College for their co-operation for the project. I would like to thankful to Prof. Narhe T.M.
for their co-operation for the project. I would also like to thanks laboratory assistant Shri
Datir Tukaram for their help during my project work. I am also thankful to my friends and
parents who have given me moral support and all types of help during the project work.
Yours faithfully,
PAYMODE SONALI ASHOK
[Link]
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INDEX
[Link] Topic Name Page No.
1. Abstract 6 to 8
2. Field Work 9 to 10
3. Conclusion And Recommendations 11 to 13
4. References 14 to 15
5. Appendices 16 to 18
My Opinion on Waste Management in
6. India 19 to 20
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Abstract
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 is
waste management, which 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 choke and struggle till death because they consume waste
on the streets.
So far, many lives have been 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
beneficial in disposing of waste without harming the environment.
Waste management is helpful in protecting the environment and
ensuring the safety of the surrounding environment for humans and
animals. This process of waste management evolved due to
industrialisation, as before these inventions, simple burying was
sufficient for disposing of waste.
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One of the crucial things to control waste is creating awareness
among people, and this can only be achieved when governments and
stakeholders in various countries take this health issue seriously. To
communicate with various communities and reach every 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.
Waste management is not an option but a necessity in today’s world.
A clean environment leads to healthier lives, sustainable
development, and a greener planet. By adopting the principles of
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3Rs), societies can manage waste more
effectively. Collaboration between individuals, industries, and
governments is essential to tackle the growing waste problem and
ensure a sustainable future for the next generations.
One of the crucial aspects of today’s society is waste management. Due to
a surge in population, 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 the 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
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methods are beneficial in disposing of waste without harming the
environment. Waste management is helpful in protecting the
environment and ensuring the 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 present in the environment. One of the prominent and successful
waste management processes, recycling enables us not only to save
resources but also to prevent the accumulation of waste. Therefore, it is
very important to teach and execute waste management.
***
8
Field Work
9
Field work in waste management was both challenging and eye-
opening. Our day started at 5 AM at the municipal dumping yard
where we observed primary collection. We followed waste collection
trucks through residential areas and saw how segregation at source
was still a major issue. Most households mixed wet and dry waste
despite awareness drives.
At the Material Recovery Facility, we sorted plastic, paper, and metal
by hand with sanitation workers. The smell and heat were intense,
but it showed the ground reality of recycling. We also visited a
composting plant where food waste was converted to manure in 15
days using aerobic composting.
The biggest takeaway was understanding the informal sector.
Ragpickers played a huge role but lacked safety gear and social
security. We conducted surveys on household waste habits and
realized behavior change is harder than building infrastructure.
Overall, field work taught me that waste management isn't just about
technology. It's about people, policy, and consistent execution at
every level.
***
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Conclusion - Waste Management
Effective waste management is critical for India's health,
environment, and economy. Despite progress through Swachh Bharat
Mission and waste-to-energy plants, major challenges remain. Over
62 million tonnes of waste is generated annually, but only 70% is
collected and just 20-25% is processed. Landfills are overflowing,
groundwater is getting contaminated, and open burning causes
severe air pollution.
The core issue is not lack of technology but weak implementation of
segregation at source, poor accountability, and low public
participation. Informal waste workers handle 90% of recycling yet
remain unrecognized and unsafe. Without system-level change, the
waste problem will keep growing with urbanization.
***
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1
Recommendations
1. 100% Source Segregation
- Make 3-bin system mandatory: wet, dry, hazardous
- Fines for non-segregation + incentives for compliant societie
- Daily monitoring through ward-level committees
2. Decentralized Processing
- Ward-level composting pits for wet waste instead of hauling to
landfills
- Material Recovery Facilities in every zone for dry waste
- Ban single-use plastic with strict enforcement
3. Integrate Informal Sector
- Provide ID cards, safety gear, and health insurance to ragpickers
- Form SHGs/cooperatives and link them to ULBs officially
- Fair wages for collection and sorting work
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4. Circular Economy Push
- Extended Producer Responsibility: brands must take back
packaging waste
- Promote upcycling startups and waste-to-product businesses
- Mandatory recycled content in plastic products
5. Tech + Awareness
- GPS tracking of waste trucks to prevent illegal dumping
- School curriculum + RWA campaigns for behavior change
- Public dashboards showing ward-wise waste data
Bottom line: Waste is a resource if managed right. India needs a shift
from "throw away" to "reuse, reduce, recycle" with citizens,
government, and industry all accountable.
***
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References
1. Government Reports & Data
1. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) – Annual Report on Solid
Waste Management, 2022-23
Official data on waste generation, collection, and processing across
states
2. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs – Swachh Bharat Mission-
Urban 2.0 Guidelines, 2021
Policy framework for garbage-free cities
3. NITI Aayog – Waste-wise Cities: Best practices in municipal solid
waste management, 2021
Case studies from Indore, Surat, Panaji
2. International Organizations
4. World Bank – What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste
Management to 2050, 2018
Global data with India-specific insights
5. UNEP – Global Waste Management Outlook 2024
Focus on circular economy and waste-to-resource models
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3. Research Papers & Articles
6. TERI – Managing India’s Waste: Challenges and Opportunities,
2023
Analysis of policy gaps and tech solutions
7. CSE – Centre for Science and Environment – Not in My Backyard:
Solid Waste Management in Indian Cities, 2022
Ground-level audit of 28 cities
4. Acts & Rules
8. Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 – MoEF&CC
Legal framework for segregation, processing, and disposal
9. Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 – Amended 2022
EPR and single-use plastic ban details
***
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Appendices
Questionnaire Form
Section 1: Basic Info
1. Name: _______________ (Optional)
2. No. of members in household/shop: __________
3. Type of dwelling: Independent house / Flat / Slum / Commercial
Section 2: Waste Generation & Segregation
4. How much waste do you generate daily?
- <1 kg
- 1-2 kg
- 2-5 kg
- Don't know
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5. Do you segregate waste at home?
- Yes, always
- Sometimes
- No
- Not aware of segregation
6. If yes, how many bins do you use?
- 1 bin for all waste
- 2 bins: Wet & Dry
- 3 bins: Wet, Dry, Hazardous
7. What do you do with kitchen/food waste?
- Give to waste collector
- Compost at home
- Throw in open
- Feed animals
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Section 3: Collection & Disposal*
8. How is waste collected in your area?
- Door-to-door by municipal van
- Community bins
- Private collector
- No collection service
9. How often is waste collected?
- Daily
- Alternate days
- 2-3 times per week
- Irregular
10. Do you pay any user fee for waste collection?
- Yes, ₹____/month
- No
- Not aware
***
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My Opinion on Waste Management in India
1. We’re fighting the symptom, not the cause
Every city is spending crores on new landfills, trucks, and waste-to-
energy plants. But we’re still producing more waste than ever. The
real issue is our linear “take-make-dispose” economy. Unless we
reduce waste generation at the design stage, through minimal
packaging, refill systems, and durable products, we’ll always be
chasing bigger landfills. Pune alone generates 2100+ tonnes daily. No
plant can keep up if generation keeps rising 4% yearly.
2. Segregation is non-negotiable, but it’s failing because of trust
The law says “segregate or face fines”, but I’ve seen municipal vans
mix wet and dry waste after collection. Why would a household
segregate if it all gets mixed later? Citizens have lost trust in the
system. We need transparency: GPS-tracked trucks, public
dashboards showing where your ward’s waste went today.
Accountability will drive behavior faster than another awareness
poster.
3. The informal sector is the backbone we refuse to acknowledge
Ragpickers recycle 20% of India’s waste with zero investment from
the government. Yet we call them “encroachers” and exclude them
from contracts. My opinion: formalize them. Give ID cards, fixed
routes, and pay per kg like Kerala’s Haritha Karma Sena. It’s cheaper
and more effective than any imported tech.
4. “Waste to Energy” is often “Waste to Pollution”
Burning mixed waste releases dioxins and toxins. Most Indian WTE
plants fail because our waste has 50% moisture and low calorific
value. We’re pushing a wrong solution. The priority should be:
Reduce > Reuse > Compost > Recycle > Energy. Energy recovery is
the last step, not the first.
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My bottom-line opinion:
India doesn’t have a waste problem. We have a wasted resources
problem. The day we start paying people for clean, segregated waste
like we pay for milk or newspapers, the system will fix itself. Policy
should reward the right behavior, not just punish the wrong one.
***
* THANKS *
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