Background

Modernization has brought into focus new issues like a need for waste treatment, for which several "modern" methods exist. There are, however, few scattered efforts that categorically examine the scientific basis of these methods and put them into perspective taking into account the overall scenario. The parameters for the selection of a technology are not defined and being relative, adopting parameters that work partially does not solve the problems, but creates newer ones.

By and large, the bulk of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Liquid Waste (MLW) is "treated" by dumping - solid waste into landfills and sewage into the oceans/water bodies (both with some questionable "predisposal treatment"). These methods temporarily dispense with the problem in one situation but magnify it in another. The environmental and public health implications of these methods are immense and have tremendous negative repercussions. There is a need, therefore, to consider treatment options whose focus is the generation of wealth from waste and that are synchronous with Nature's scheme.

Soil BioTechnology (SBT)

This waste treatment technology (developed by IIT Bombay) is an excellent ecological, efficient, acceptable, and economical, method to treat organic solid and liquid waste generating high-quality biofertilizer and recycling water for use in irrigation and fisheries. It creates greenbelts and the net area requirement is very low.

The technology is an engineered system with physical, chemical, and biological elements, and is centered on creating and maintaining a balanced ecosystem, through which the waste is cycled, such that the system is self-sustaining and self-remediating. The process combines respiration and photosynthesis to achieve cost-effective and sustainable treatment.

Evaluating the Existing Options

In order to arrive at the best solution from among those available, it is necessary to make a comparative study of the currently-used technologies on a few crucial parameters. We have made an attempt at such comparison, both for MSW and MLW, and are therefore promoting SBT as a worthwhile holistic solution.

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