Household responses to information, communication of
actions of community, incentives on Solid waste management Actions: A case
study of Delhi Households
Solid Waste Management is a priority area
both for the Central Government under the Clean India program and Smart Cities
Initiative, and also for the Delhi Government as a focus area approved by Delhi
Dialogues Commission. The Municipal Solid Waste Handling Rules 2016, specify that the
generator of the waste has to segregate waste before it is collected. The rules also specify that landfilling may be permitted only for
non- usable, non- biodegradable, non-recyclable, non-combustible and
non-reactive inert waste [Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling)
Rules, 2016].
Delhi generates 8360 tons (approx.) of municipal solid waste
(MSW) per day [DPCC website]. Keeping the
current rules in mind, segregating waste at the source will not only
improve the quality of work environment of the rag pickers [Sarkar, 2003] but
also reduce emissions to air, soil and water and increase the quantities that
can be recycled.
Methodology
The objective of the study is to understand the factors that
would induce households to segregate waste generated at source. Localities will be randomly selected to
receive thefollowing treatments--
·
Information on dry and wet waste: The
intervention entails provision of dustbins and brochures listing what exactly
comprises of dry and wet waste, which will also be displayed on the notice
boards of the localities receiving the treatment.
·
Communication of action of peers: Provision of information
on the percentage of households segregating their waste.
·
Incentives (Only for localities that are
randomly assigned to this intervention): Provision of incentive to the
households segregating waste at source (to a maximum of Rs. 50 for one month
per household).
Within the participating localities, households will be randomly selected to be a part of the study. The
study will involve a baseline survey to ascertain the current waste disposal
practices and follow up surveys (3 follow up surveys and one survey a month
after the end of the study).
The study will inform the policy makers of
the barriers and drivers at the ground level to implementing the Municipal
Solid Waste Handling Rules, 2016.
The
participating RWAs will also be acknowledged for their support and cooperation
and also be invited to a workshop to disseminate the findings of the study
which would also involve representatives of the State and Central Government,
and MCD officials, which will highlight the issues faced
by the RWAs to the Government agencies.
Please mail to :
rwabhagidari@yahoo.in
in case you wish to participate in this study.