Guwahati, the largest city and commercial capital of Assam, has been rapidly transforming over the years. With its growing population, expanding infrastructure, and burgeoning economy, the city has become a bustling urban centre. However, along with its progress, Guwahati faces one of the most pressing challenges of modern urban living: waste management. The city’s waste management system is struggling to keep pace with the increasing volume of waste generated by its residents, businesses, and industries. If left unchecked, the growing waste crisis will have severe consequences on the environment, public health, and the quality of life in the city. It is, therefore, a call for all stakeholders—government, businesses, and citizens alike—to take responsibility and address this issue with urgency.
The waste management crisis in Guwahati has become more pronounced in recent years. The city generates a staggering amount of solid waste daily, with estimates ranging between 700 and 800 metric tonnes of waste produced every day. This includes everything from household waste to commercial and industrial refuse, as well as construction debris. The majority of this waste is non-biodegradable, and a significant portion of it is plastic. The sheer volume of waste, coupled with the inefficient waste management systems in place, has led to a growing problem that affects all aspects of city life.
One of the key reasons for the waste management problem in Guwahati is the rapid pace of urbanisation. As the city expands, so does the volume of waste it generates. In the absence of a well-organised waste collection, segregation, and recycling system, the waste produced by the growing population ends up in the streets, open areas, and rivers. The lack of adequate waste processing infrastructure, coupled with a lack of public awareness, has exacerbated the problem. While Guwahati has a municipal corporation responsible for waste management, the existing systems are often not sufficient to handle the increasing volumes of waste generated daily. The infrastructure, which is often outdated and under-resourced, struggles to cope with the growing demand.
The situation is worsened by the lack of proper waste segregation at the source. Most households and businesses in Guwahati do not separate their waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories. This means that all types of waste are collected together and end up in landfills, where they take years to decompose, especially the plastic waste. The inability to segregate waste at the source makes recycling and composting more difficult. The city’s waste processing plants, which are few in number and poorly equipped, are often overwhelmed by the sheer amount of waste they are tasked with processing.
Plastic waste, in particular, has emerged as one of the biggest environmental threats in Guwahati. The city, like many other urban centres, faces an overwhelming amount of plastic waste, much of it coming from single-use plastics like bottles, bags, and wrappers. The improper disposal of plastic waste has led to clogged drains, polluted rivers, and unsightly litter scattered across the city. Guwahati’s famous Brahmaputra River, which holds immense cultural and spiritual significance for the people of Assam, is frequently polluted with plastic waste. The presence of plastic not only harms the aesthetics of the riverfront but also disrupts the delicate ecosystem of the river. The situation is further aggravated by the city’s poor waste disposal practices, with plastic waste often being dumped in open spaces and along roadsides.
In response to the growing waste crisis, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has made efforts to address the problem, but these initiatives have had limited success. The GMC has initiated programs aimed at improving waste segregation, increasing public awareness, and setting up waste processing plants. Some areas in the city have been equipped with designated bins for segregating waste, and efforts have been made to educate the public about the importance of waste segregation and recycling. However, the impact of these initiatives has been minimal due to the lack of enforcement and the low level of public participation. The reluctance of residents to adopt waste segregation practices and the absence of a robust waste disposal system in several parts of the city continue to pose major challenges.
Another major issue is the lack of proper landfill management. Guwahati’s existing landfill sites are already overburdened and have reached their capacity. These dumpsites, which have been accumulating waste for years, are often poorly managed and lack the infrastructure to prevent environmental contamination. Leachate, a toxic liquid that forms when waste decomposes, often leaks into the ground and pollutes the surrounding environment, including water sources. Additionally, the burning of waste at these sites releases harmful pollutants into the air, contributing to air pollution and posing serious health risks to nearby residents. The management of these landfills is a critical aspect of solving the waste management crisis in Guwahati.
The plastic waste problem is another area that requires immediate attention. While the state government has banned the use of single-use plastics in certain areas, enforcement of this ban remains weak, and plastic waste continues to be a major issue in the city. Plastic waste, especially non-recyclable plastic, takes hundreds of years to decompose, causing long-term environmental damage. The lack of a proper waste-to-energy facility and an efficient recycling system means that much of the plastic waste is either incinerated or ends up in landfills, further exacerbating the pollution problem.
The public awareness aspect of waste management in Guwahati is also an area of concern. Despite the ongoing efforts to educate citizens about the importance of waste segregation and recycling, many residents still do not fully understand the gravity of the situation. Many people continue to dispose of their waste haphazardly, contributing to the accumulation of waste in public spaces and water bodies. The lack of adequate waste disposal infrastructure in certain parts of the city also makes it difficult for residents to dispose of waste properly.
To address these issues, it is essential for all stakeholders to play an active role. The government must invest in modernising the city’s waste management infrastructure, including setting up more waste processing plants and establishing a more efficient waste segregation and recycling system. Public awareness campaigns should be intensified, and the public must be made more aware of the environmental impact of improper waste disposal. Strict enforcement of waste disposal regulations, including fines for littering and improper disposal, should be implemented to ensure that citizens take responsibility for their actions.
Private sector involvement in waste management can also help bring in new ideas and technologies that can improve the efficiency of waste collection, segregation, and processing. Collaborations between the government and private companies can help introduce advanced waste management techniques, such as waste-to-energy plants and automated recycling facilities, which can significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
The role of the citizens is equally crucial in solving the waste management problem. People must take the initiative to segregate their waste at the source and avoid using single-use plastics. Community-based waste management initiatives, such as composting organic waste and reducing waste generation, should be promoted to encourage sustainable practices. If every resident of Guwahati contributes to waste management in their own small way, it will have a significant cumulative effect on the overall cleanliness of the city.
In conclusion, Guwahati’s waste management crisis is a complex issue that requires immediate attention and concerted effort from all stakeholders—government, businesses, and citizens. The city’s rapid urbanisation, coupled with inadequate waste management infrastructure and low public awareness, has led to a situation where waste is piling up and polluting the environment. However, with the right combination of improved infrastructure, public awareness, and stricter enforcement, Guwahati can overcome this crisis. It is a call for environmental responsibility—an opportunity for the city to rethink its waste management strategies and work together towards a cleaner, greener future. The time to act is now, for the sake of the city’s environment, its people, and its future.
(All views and opinions expressed are author’s own)