Municipal Solid Waste Generation and its Management, a Growing Threat to Fragile Ecosystem in Kashmir Himalaya

The Kashmir valley is facing tremendous pressure associated with problems of growing waste generation. Thus, the aim of the present research was to generate baseline data for adequate waste management and associated problems. For the collection of samples, 20 houses were randomly selected in the main town from each district and segregated into compostable, recyclable, combustible and inert categories. All the samples were transported with immense care to the laboratory for further analysis. Waste generation for the four districts with an average of 0.526 kg/capita/day in Srinagar, 0.479 kg/capita/day in Anantnag, 0.400 kg/capita/day in Ganderbal and 0.397 kg/capita/day in Budgam were determined during the current investigation. The total waste generated on annual basis observed in all the four districts was observed to be 57,199.99 Metric Tonnes (MT) with the highest (236,732.75 MT) in Srinagar and the lowest of (42,840.00 MT) in Budgam. The waste constituent accounted highest 20-22% for food waste followed by cardboard and paper (11-15%), wooden items (11-14%). The major fraction of category waste comprised of recyclable (62-64%), followed by compostable (20-21%) and minor comprised of inert materials (3-4%). In general, poor to negligible systems of waste collection, transportation and disposal were observed in all four districts. Srinagar was found as the lone district practicing landfilling of MSW in Achan area. Thus, the need of hour is to save the scenic beauty of fragile ecosystem from waste disposal hazard after adopting various strategies like segregation of waste at the source and statutory provisions.