Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM): A Case Study of Nagaon Town in Assam, India

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM), mostly an urban phenomenon, is undoubtedly an important issue of global concern today that invites attention of engineers, activists, academicians, researchers, students and citizens interested in and working on environment. Disposal of waste in an eco-friendly and sustainable way stands as a big problem even in small towns nowadays. Ceaseless migration of people to urban centres from neighbouring rural and semi urban areas has resulted in exponential growth of population in towns and cities. There is a continuous shift of economic activity from agrarian to industrial and service sector as well. Most people have sought for the so-called modern made-easy lifestyle with the abandonment of rural traditional life and adopted the throw-away culture. Plastics have replaced traditional cotton and jute culture in day today life from market to kitchen and garden to bedroom. It has inevitably led to the generation of huge amount of municipal solid waste (MSW). Small cities and towns are also no exception. The present study is an attempt to examine the status of MSWM in Nagaon, a class I town in Assam. Both primary and secondary data were used. For collection of primary data, 5 separate questionnaires were specifically designed for households, ragpickers, commercial establishments, hospitals, and Municipal Board. It was found that the status of MSWM in the town is not satisfactory from collection to disposal, the main causes being the inefficiency of the municipality and the absence of community participation.