Narrate various types and the characteristics of Solid Waste.
In short
Solid waste has four main types: biodegradable (food and garden waste), recyclable (plastics, paper, glass, metals), inert (construction debris that does not decompose) and hazardous or biomedical waste needing special handling. Each needs its own treatment, yet Andhra Pradesh's 123 ULBs had only 4 sanitary landfills in 2022.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 296 words
Fragmented Roles and Weak Coordination
Multiple bodies like municipal corporations and pollution boards manage waste, but coordination gaps persist; only 5 of 17 Andhra Pradesh ULBs had SWM bye-laws by 2022. This fragmentation hampers unified policy implementation and resource optimization.
Data Deficiency and Capacity Constraints
Accurate waste data is scarce; Andhra Pradesh’s 123 ULBs generated ~6,890 tons/day in 2022, but segregation and processing data remain incomplete. Additionally, many ULBs lack technical and financial capacity to adopt scientific waste management, limiting progress.
Recyclable and Inert Waste
Recyclables (~17%) include plastics (9.4 million tonnes annually in India), paper, metals; inert waste (~32%) like construction debris requires specialized disposal, yet many landfills lack proper liners, causing contamination. Innovative recycling and co-processing methods are being promoted to mitigate environmental impact.
Infrastructure Deficits
Only 4 Andhra Pradesh ULBs had sanitary landfills and 82 lacked wet waste plants (2022), leading to dumping and pollution. This infrastructure gap undermines effective waste treatment and environmental safety.
Segregation Compliance Issues
Andhra Pradesh audits showed ~75% segregation in 2024, revealing enforcement and public participation gaps. Strengthening awareness and monitoring is essential to improve segregation rates.
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Question from the official APPSC Group-I Mains 2016 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.