People participation needed for better waste management: Javadekar

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday called for increased participation of people and use of new technology to make waste management more effective, an official statement said.

Addressing a consultation with stakeholders on Waste Management Rules, 2015 here, the minister suggested that waste management be included in school curriculum by conducting cleanliness drives.

In a move aimed to encourage public participation, Javadekar said the the draft rules, which are being currently prepared, have been posted online for consultation and inviting people's opinion.

"Waste management rules have to be taken to the people, as rules are of no use without the participation of the people," he said.

The Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2015, have been finalized as well as drafts of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2015, Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2015, Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2015 and e-Waste Management Rules, 2015.

Impressing on the government's commitment to the mission to provide clean air, clean water, clean environment, clean energy and more greenery, Javadekar said that segregation of waste should start at source and the aim is to achieve 100 percent waste segregation over the period of next four years.

"Government will assist municipal authorities in training sweepers on how to deal with the disposal of biomass," he added.

Also present, Environment Secretary Ashok Lavasa impressed on the shift in the value system from durability to disposability and pointed out that the entire approach towards waste has to change.

He called for a national consultation and added that the approach to waste management must make citizens a part of the system, the statement said.

The consultation was organized by the environment, forest and climate change ministry in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry.