Plastic waste from households choking landfills in Ahmedabad, segregation at source is key to tackling plastic pollution
, account for more than 10% of the solid waste generated by the city that ends up at landfill sites such as Pirana.
As the World Environment Day theme this year is 'Beat Plastic Pollution,' city-based experts said that the first step towards ensuring this will be to ensure segregation at source so that more recyclable material can be processed properly.
Batul Sethwala, a 5th-year Bachelor's of Urban Design student at CEPT University, in her directed research project (DRP), focused on understanding how waste moves through a community—from the point of generation to its transformation into something new.
"I began by mapping the entire waste flow and identified segregation at the household level as the most critical step. Based on conversations with residents, I designed a three-compartment dustbin tailored to the types of waste commonly generated at home: wet waste (mostly food scraps), plastic, and a third section for miscellaneous items. This simple structure makes it easier for residents to separate their waste correctly," she said.
She added that with some training and intervention, the community could use repurposed plastic to create products, including shading structures, and create a circular system where waste not only leaves the home cleanly but returns in a new, functional form.
Lok Sabha data indicated that Gujarat was sixth in the country in 2022-23 in generating plastic waste at 2.71 lakh tons annually. The number, however, came down from 4.08 lakh tons recorded in 2019-20.
City-based experts said that microplastics are also a major concern, primarily due to improper processing of waste generated at every step. Several products used daily generate microplastic that is difficult to process.
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