Role of Private Sector in Waste Management

Primes issues, objective and challenges of waste management include improper rubbish collection method, lack of technology (specially in developing countries) to segregate waste at source, unavailability of land space, lack of awareness to manage e-waste, lack of knowledge/awareness among public for proper waste management and dumping.

The traditional method of waste management is dumping in landfill or open areas, a practice more common in developing and underdeveloped countries. Developing countries are concussed with technology as well as financial stability as they cannot mobilize economic resources for application of updated and expensive machines.

Increase in population, urbanization and migration is also one of the major challenges of waste management currently and if situation remains the same, this problem will keep on rising and waste management can be very difficult to handle in near future, if new technologies are not developed for mobilization of waste. Private companies strongly need to interfere in the waste management sector, and their need is strongly felt for effective waste management systems.

The administration of private sector is more efficient. It has been believed that private sector can do better services of waste management at the same budget allocated or same service as municipalities but at considerably lower price. Studies suggest that, efficiency of private sector is often more than government mainly because they are more able to be more convenient and flexible in assigning services to its labour and provide motivation to its staff by incentives, perks, bonuses and career development opportunities.

The private sector usually follow simpler administration procedures, more freedom from any interference or influence from political parties or any individual with political background. For example, HCL has started initiative to take electronic wastes from house as they believe e-wastes can be treated for safe disposal once it reaches to end of its life.

To promote similar recycling technique, Nokia started taking discarded or waste phones, battery, chargers, earphones etc. to be deposited at their waste recycling bins set up in various countries across the world. This technique worked very well and helped in management of e-wastes to large extent.