Schedule

Bangalore

Sustainable Architecture(s) - Humane Cities
Analysis of Plastic Waste Management from social and environmental perspective: A case of Pune, India
G. Nagarkar & P. Deshmukh
2:15 pm - 3:45 pm

Abstract

Solid waste management was addressed in Smart City Mission, India and Sustainable development goals of the United Nations. For solid waste management, there are various models developed by Municipal and local authorities. Among the various solid wastes, plastic being non-biodegradable, poses a major challenge as far as its management is concerned. The stage of development of a country also affects the generation and consequently the management of plastic waste. Plastic waste management in India is done primarily using landfills causing serious problems of land and water pollution. Alternatively burning of plastic causes air pollution and is hazardous for workers who are handling the plastic waste. In this paper, and importance of recycling/upcycling plastic waste considering the life cycle of Plastic as a material is studied. The impact of plastic on the environment and methods to avoid it are also dealt with. Issues of workers involved in plastic waste management are identified based on demographic data as well as questionnaire survey of workers, NGO and Municipal authorities. This paper includes analysis regarding the socio-economic status of these workers. The possibility of addressing worker-related issues through recycling/upcycling of plastic into plastic products is also studied. The production of upcycled items/products can be synchronized with increased supply of plastic waste. A survey of the bibliography revealed that there is a need to address the issues of workers involved in plastic waste management if we wish to tackle this problem in its totality. The aim of this paper is to analyze the issues involved in plastic waste and problems faced by plastic waste workers from social and environmental perspective for Pune city and suggest sustainable and holistic policies for plastic waste management with the worker as the main focus.

Biography

Ar. Geeta Nagarkar has done Masters in Environmental Architecture with first class distinction. She is working as Assistant professor in BNCA for 7 years. She has guided successfully many students for thesis. She is also guiding students for “Energy Management “elective in the past 4 years. Her project ‘Rejuvenation of Nagzari Nalla’ was selected for exhibition held by PMC, Dr. BNCA, Pune and Royal Institute of Arts, Sweden jointly at Raja Kelkar Museum, Pune. It was also published in the International publication Inclusive India: Re: Pune by SIDA for Action plan of conservation for Pune Historic City Core. She also presented the above proposal in the Annual exhibition conducted by ‘The Royal Institute of Arts’ in Sweden. She has successfully completed online course by NPTEL-Principals and Application of building physics and scored 60% and received Elite certificate under AICT FDP courses. Along with other professors of BNCA she has guided the students and participated in Kirloskar Green college clean college (Kirloskar GCCC) Competition 2021. She has completed many workshops for research organised by Wiley, IBM and Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India. She has updated herself with the online mode of teaching and done the courses “Basic and advanced Excel “,” ONLINE TEACHING TOOLS” (Microsoft Teams, Audacity, Canva, Animo meter etc.) by ESSGEE Digi skills. Ar.Prachi Deshmukh has done Bachelors in Architecture with first class distinction. She has a keen interest in various forms of sustainability in architecture and has always thrived to look for solutions that bring us closer to nature and people. She has received honourable mention in Kaarwan National Design Competition for her work “Modular quarantine center during the COVID-19 pandemic” She has participated in many workshops and sessions ranging from zero waste furniture to unconventional building technologies.  She actively participated and volunteered in various other competitions to get an experience in management and design thinking. She worked as graphic designer and developed websites and portfolios of various architectural firms. She also conducted workshops for hand sketching as well as digital sketching.