Solid Waste Management in India Introduction 

• Solid waste management remains one of the most critical issues in India today. 
• Recently, the Supreme Court of India criticized the state of waste management in New Delhi, highlighting the city’s inability to properly manage its solid waste. 
• With over 3,800 tons of untreated waste generated daily in Delhi alone, the issue poses severe risks to public health and the environment. Immediate and effective steps must be taken to ensure safe disposal and treatment of waste across the country.

What is Solid Waste?

• • Solid waste refers to any unwanted or discarded material that is not in liquid or gaseous form. These materials are produced from a variety of sources such as households, industries, markets, and institutions.

• Types of Solid Waste:

• • Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): This category includes waste generated from households, markets, and commercial establishments.
  • Biomedical Waste: Generated by hospitals and clinics, this waste requires special handling due to its potentially hazardous nature.
  • Electronic Waste (E-waste): Includes discarded electronic devices such as phones, laptops, and household appliances.
  • Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste: Includes debris, bricks, tiles, and other waste from construction and demolition activities.
  • Industrial Waste: Waste by-products from factories, often including hazardous materials.
  • Plastic Waste: Mainly single-use plastics and packaging material that are increasingly becoming a significant environmental concern.

Status of Solid Waste Generation in India

• • India faces an overwhelming challenge in managing its solid waste. 
  • According to a Nature study, India is the largest producer of plastic waste globally, contributing 9.3 million tons of plastic waste annually. This figure accounts for approximately 20% of the world’s total plastic emissions.

• Key Waste Management Statistics:

• • • Total Solid Waste Generated Daily: Approximately 160,000 Metric Tons Per Day (TPD).
    • Daily Waste Collection: Around 153,000 Metric Tons Per Day (TPD), with a collection efficiency of about 96%.
    • Waste Treatment: Only 50% of the total waste is treated, which amounts to about 80,000 Metric Tons Per Day (TPD).
    • Waste Landfilled: 30,000 Metric Tons Per Day (TPD) or 18.4% of the total waste generated ends up in landfills.
    • Unaccounted Waste Generation: About 50,000 Metric Tons Per Day (TPD), making up approximately 31.2% of the total waste generated in India.
  • These numbers highlight the vast gap in India’s waste management infrastructure and the pressing need for improvements in collection, treatment, and disposal.

• Composition of Solid Waste in India:

• • Solid waste in India is predominantly organic, but the increasing amounts of non-biodegradable and hazardous waste are posing significant challenges. The composition of waste generated in India is as follows:
  • Biodegradable Wet Waste: Around 50-55% of the total waste generated is organic and biodegradable, such as food waste, vegetable peels, and garden waste, which can be composted.
  • Non-Biodegradable Wet Waste: About 35% of the waste is non-biodegradable but still recyclable, including materials like rubber, cloth, and some plastics.
  • Inert Waste: Roughly 10% of the waste is inert, including debris and construction waste that cannot be recycled or composted.

Key Challenges in Solid Waste Management in India

• Rising Waste Generation: The growing population, urbanization, and increased consumption have led to an exponential rise in waste generation. This issue is compounded by the expansion of the digital economy, resulting in a substantial increase in e-waste generation.

• • • Plastic Waste in Eco-sensitive Areas: Regions like the Himalayas are being heavily impacted by rising plastic waste. This plastic waste is obstructing delicate ecosystems and contributing to environmental degradation.
    • Planning Commission Report: According to a Planning Commission Report, India is projected to generate 165 million tons of waste annually by 2030, up from the current generation of 160,000 Metric Tons per day.

• Lack of Proper Waste Management Infrastructure: India lacks adequate infrastructure to effectively manage waste across urban and rural areas. Several gaps exist, including insufficient facilities for waste collection, segregation, transportation, and disposal.

• • • Waste Collection Rates: While India collects approximately 153,000 Metric Tons per day (TPD) of waste, around 30% of the generated waste remains uncollected due to logistical challenges.
    • Limited Waste Processing: Only 50% of the total waste generated in India is processed. Around 20% ends up in landfills, and 30% of waste is unaccounted for, pointing to poor infrastructure and systems.
  • Specific Infrastructure Gaps: Many cities, including Delhi, lack the required land space to build modern waste processing plants. Delhi needs 30-40 acres per plant, which is often not available in densely populated urban areas.

• Littering and Illegal Dumping: Improper waste disposal practices result in widespread littering and illegal dumping. A significant portion of waste is disposed of in uncontrolled dumpsites and landfills.

• • • Landfill Statistics: Approximately 24% of untreated waste ends up in landfills, many of which are unscientific and overflowing. These landfills generate harmful gases like methane, contributing to air pollution and climate change.
    • Methane Emission: Studies show that 90-98% of landfill gases are made up of methane and carbon dioxide, potent greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

• Lack of Land Resources for Waste Processing: Urban centers in India often face land shortages, making it difficult to set up the necessary waste processing facilities.

• • • In cities like Delhi, the establishment of waste processing plants requires large land parcels (around 30-40 acres). With limited availability of space, these cities struggle to develop the infrastructure required for waste treatment.

• Public Awareness Deficit: There is a significant lack of public awareness regarding proper waste management practices. This contributes to widespread littering, inefficient waste segregation, and improper disposal of waste materials.

• • • According to surveys conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, over 60% of urban residents are unaware of waste segregation practices at the household level, leading to waste being mixed and sent to landfills instead of being recycled or composted.

• Inconsistent Waste Collection Services: Irregular waste collection services in certain regions lead to the accumulation of waste in streets and open areas, which further exacerbates littering.

• • In cities like Bhopal, Lucknow, and Chennai, waste collection services are often inconsistent, with some areas experiencing gaps in service. This leads to visible piles of waste in public spaces and increases the risk of diseases.

• Lack of Reliable Data: Accurate data on the quantity and quality of waste generated and processed is often lacking in India, making it difficult to formulate effective waste management policies.

• • Official Statistics: According to official estimates, the plastic waste generation rate in India is 0.12 kg/capita/day, but a study published in ‘Nature’ found the actual figure to be 0.54 kg/capita/day, indicating a significant gap in reporting and a lack of accurate data collection.
  • Overestimated Collection: Agencies report that 95% of waste is collected, but these figures do not account for waste in rural areas, waste burned openly, or the waste recycled by the informal sector.
  • The Informal Sector’s Role: The informal sector, consisting of waste pickers and recyclers, plays a crucial role in managing and extracting value from waste. However, these workers often operate in hazardous conditions and lack proper support and resources.
    • According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 1.5 million waste pickers work in India, often without safety equipment or health protection. Despite this, they recover valuable materials such as plastics and metals, contributing to the country’s recycling efforts.

• Waste Composition: India’s waste stream includes a large proportion of organic material that can be composted, offering opportunities for waste-to-compost and biomethanation. However, the increasing amount of non-biodegradable waste such as plastics and e-waste poses additional challenges.

• • Nearly 50-55% of India’s waste is biodegradable wet waste, which can be composted. However, 35% of waste is non-biodegradable and requires specialized recycling methods.

Harmful Impacts of Poor Waste Management

• Health Impacts: Improper waste management leads to several significant health risks.

• • • Air Pollution: The open burning of waste releases particulate matter that is harmful to human health. It is linked to respiratory diseases such as asthma and lung cancer.
    • Vector-Borne Diseases: Waste dumps and stagnating waste serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the spread of diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikungunya. For instance, the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme reports an increase in dengue cases due to improperly managed solid waste.

• Environmental Degradation: Improper disposal of waste leads to severe environmental problems, including soil, water, and air contamination.

• • • Soil Contamination: Leachate from landfills contaminates the soil and groundwater. For example, the Okhla Landfill in Delhi has caused significant contamination of nearby groundwater, rendering it unfit for consumption.
    • Marine Pollution: A large portion of waste, particularly plastics, ends up in oceans, contributing to marine pollution. The Ocean Conservancy’s report reveals that India ranks among the top five countries responsible for dumping plastics into the oceans.

• Economic Costs: The economic consequences of poor waste management include significant losses in productivity and increased costs for the government and communities.

• Urban Flooding: Poor waste management contributes to clogged drains, which is a leading cause of urban flooding. In Chennai, flooding in 2015 was partially attributed to clogged drainage systems due to improper waste disposal.
• Tourism Impact: Unsightly piles of waste in tourist destinations negatively affect tourism. For example, cities like Varanasi and Jaipur report declining tourism numbers due to poor waste management and littered public spaces.

Key Government Interventions for Solid Waste Management

• Policy and Legal Framework for Waste Management in India: The Government of India (GoI) has formulated several rules and regulations to govern solid waste management, aiming to tackle waste generation and its adverse impacts. These rules are framed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and are updated periodically to align with new challenges and solutions.

• • Key Rules:

• Solid Waste Management Rules: The rules provide a framework for waste collection, segregation, recycling, and environmentally sound disposal across urban and rural areas. These rules require cities to segregate waste at the source and implement mechanisms for recycling and processing.
• e-Waste Management Rules: These rules govern the safe disposal and recycling of electronic waste. They provide guidelines on the collection, disposal, and recycling of e-waste to reduce its harmful environmental impact.
• Plastic Waste Management Rules: This initiative aims to reduce plastic pollution by encouraging plastic recycling and the elimination of single-use plastics. It also promotes the use of biodegradable and recyclable alternatives.

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Mechanism: The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanism holds producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, from production to post-consumption waste management. This policy encourages manufacturers to take responsibility for collecting and recycling their products once they are discarded.

• • • In 2022, EPR was implemented for plastic packaging, e-waste, battery waste, and used oils. Under this policy, producers are required to set up collection and recycling systems to manage waste generated from their products.

• Swachh Bharat Mission for Solid Waste Management:: Launched in 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) is one of the most ambitious and comprehensive campaigns for waste management in India. It provides central assistance to urban and rural areas for enhancing waste management infrastructure and tackling plastic waste.

• • • Under SBM, substantial funds have been allocated for setting up modern waste processing plants and improving cleanliness. Urban areas have been targeted for improving municipal solid waste management, while rural areas are also being provided with support for waste management projects.

• Compost Banao, Compost Apnao Campaign: The Compost Banao, Compost Apnao campaign, launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), encourages people to convert their kitchen waste into compost, thus reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. The campaign is part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) and aims to promote waste-to-compost practices at the household level.

• Promotion of Waste-to-Energy Projects: To address the mounting issue of waste disposal, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched initiatives to promote the conversion of urban, industrial, and agricultural waste into energy. Waste-to-energy projects not only reduce the volume of waste but also contribute to energy production, offering a dual benefit of waste reduction and renewable energy generation.

• • • The government provides central financial assistance to set up waste-to-energy plants, which can generate electricity or other forms of energy from municipal solid waste. This initiative has been instrumental in addressing the issue of waste disposal in major cities.

• GOBAR-Dhan Scheme: The GOBAR-Dhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) scheme aims to promote the conversion of cattle dung and organic farm waste into biogas and organic compost in rural areas. The scheme is designed to help rural households manage waste sustainably and generate energy while supporting organic farming.

• • • The scheme is helping to convert agricultural waste into biogas and compost, improving the rural economy and promoting sustainable farming practices while also reducing environmental pollution.

• National Action Plan for Municipal Solid Waste Management: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has developed the National Action Plan for Municipal Solid Waste Management, which outlines a detailed strategy for waste minimization, resource recovery, recycling, processing, and environmentally sound disposal.

• • The plan focuses on ensuring that all municipalities follow a consistent approach toward waste management, emphasizing reducing waste generation and promoting the recovery of valuable resources from waste.

Way Forward

• Scientific Waste Management: Effective waste management strategies should be based on scientific principles. These strategies must consider factors like waste composition, long-term operating costs, transportation distances, and the geographical location of waste processing and disposal facilities.

• Smart Waste Management System: Integrating smart technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), RFID-enabled systems, and GPS-based monitoring into waste management can enhance collection efficiency, streamline operations, and provide real-time monitoring. 

• Focus on Recycling, Resource Recovery, and Processing: There should be a stronger emphasis on recycling and recovering resources from waste. Waste processing methods like composting, vermicomposting, and bio-methanation should be promoted to treat organic waste. Establish Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and support the formalization of the recycling sector to ensure a more efficient system for waste recovery and recycling.

• Scaling Up Waste-to-Energy Projects: To reduce dependency on landfills and provide renewable energy, waste-to-energy technologies should be scaled up. Bio-methanation (anaerobic digestion) can convert organic waste into methane, a clean fuel. Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), which is derived from non-recyclable materials like plastics and textiles, should be used in waste-to-energy plants to produce electricity.

• Enforcing the Polluter Pays Principle: The Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) holds polluters responsible for the environmental damage caused by their waste. This principle needs to be stringently implemented to ensure accountability and enforce penalties for non-compliance.

• Increasing Public Awareness: Public awareness and community participation are crucial in managing waste effectively. Self-help groups, residents’ welfare associations, and community-based organizations should be encouraged to educate the public on proper waste segregation, recycling, and composting.

• Data Collection and Monitoring: There is an urgent need for accurate data collection on waste generation, its composition, and the effectiveness of waste management efforts. This data will help identify problem areas and improve management systems. Implement systems for geo-tagging waste management infrastructure and create a centralized database to track waste generation and management across the country.

• Effective Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): To ensure effective EPR, producers, importers, and brand owners must establish collection systems and work in collaboration with local bodies to handle waste responsibly. Create a nationwide network of EPR kiosks where waste can be collected and managed efficiently, ensuring that all EPR-covered waste is processed appropriately.