Present Status of Waste Management in India and Recommendations

by Aravind E S, IIT Madras

Storage of waste at source is lacking

Domestic waste thrown on streets
Trade waste on roads / streets
Construction waste are left unattended
Biomedical wastes are disposed into municipal waste stream
Industrial waste often disposed of in open areas

In waste management, Segregation of recyclable waste not done properly at source. Initial waste collection not done at place of generation. Design & location of municipal waste storage depots inappropriate, resulting in littering of garbage . Street sweeping is not done everyday. Waste transportation is done in open vehicles. Waste processing partially practiced in 35 ulbs only. The final disposal is done through crude dumping. Waste pickers collect recyclables from municipal bins and dumpsites and litter the waste causing insanitary conditions.

India’s Population = 1027 Million (as per 2001 Census)
Urban Population = 285 Million
Urban Areas = 5161 (Cities / Towns)

Magnitude Of Problem

Per capita waste generation increasing by 1.3% per annum. With urban population is increasing between 3– 3.5% / annum. Annual increase in waste generation is around 5% annually. India produces 42.0 million tons of municipal solid waste annually at present. Per capita generation of waste varies from 200 gm to 600 gm per capita / day. Average of waste generation rate is 0.4 kg per capita per day in 0.1 million plus towns. Collection efficiency is between 50% to 90% of solid waste generated. Urban Local Bodies spend Rs.500/- to Rs.1500/- per ton on solid waste management of which, 60-70% of the amount is on collection alone 20% – 30% on transportation. No fund is spent on treatment and disposal of waste. Crude dumping of this waste is practiced in most of the cities.

Quantity Of Waste Generation

Total quantity of solid waste Generated in urban areas per day (tpd) Of the country – 1.15 lakh tonne. Waste generated in 6 mega cities – 21,100 tpd, 18.35%. Waste generated in metro cities (1 million plus towns)- 19,643 tpd , 17.08%. Waste generated in other,Class-i towns(0.1 million plus towns) 42,635.28 tpd 37.07%. If waste produced in all the class-i cities is tackled, total percentage of waste scientifically managed would be 72.5% of total waste.

Characteristics of Municipal Solid Waste

Compostable / Bio-degradable = 30% – 55%matter (can be converted into manure)
Inert material = 40% – 45% (to go to landfill)
Recyclable materials = 5% – 10% (Recycling)

These percentages differ from city to city depending upon food habits

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Reasons of Improper Management Of Waste

Improper planning for waste management while planning the townships
Impractical institutional set up for waste management and planning and designing in urban local bodies
Lack of technical and trained manpower
Incomplete community involvement
Less expertise and exposure to the city waste management using modern techniques and best practices
Partial awareness creation mechanism
Outdated Management Information Systems
Less funds with ULBs
Indifferent attitudes of ULBs in user charges and sustainability

Ideal Approaches To Waste Management

1. Possible Waste Management Options :

(a) Waste Minimisation
construction waste recycling
(b) Material Recycling
(c) Waste Processing (Resource Recovery)
(d) Waste Transformation
(e) Sanitary Landfilling – Limited land availability is a constraint in Metro cities.

2. Processing / Treatment should be :

(i) Technically sound
(ii) Financially viable
(iii) Eco-friendly / Environmental friendly
(iv) Robust operate & maintain by local community
(v) Long term sustainability

Approaches To Waste Processing & Disposal

I Wealth From Waste (Processing Of Organic Waste)

(A) Waste To Compost

(I) Aerobic / Anaerobic Composting

(II) Vermi-composting

(B) Waste To Energy

(I) Refuse Derived Fuel (Rdf) / Pelletization

(Ii) Bio-methanation

II Recycling Of Waste

III Sanitary Landfilling

IV Treating Bio-medical Waste Separately.

Various Technology Options Recommended For Waste Processing

Towns Generating Garbage

Upto 50 Metric Tons / Day(mt/Day) = Vermi-composting
Between 50 Mt & 500 Mt / Day = Vermi-composting + Mechanical Composting
More Than 500 Mt / Day = Mechanical Composting + Refuse Derived Fuel(rdf) From Rejects Keeping In View The Type Of The City (Industrial Or Non- Industrial) Or Bio-methanation

Initiatives By Government Of India

Bio-medical Waste Handling Rules, 1998 – Notified
Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2000 – Notified.
Reforms Agenda (Fiscal, Institutional, Legal)
Technical Manual on Municipal Solid Waste Management
Technology Advisory Group on Municipal Solid Waste Management
Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Integrated Plant Nutrient Management from city compost.
Tax Free Bonds by ULBs permitted by Government of India
Income Tax relief to Waste Management agencies
Public-Private Partnership in SWM
Capacity Building
Urban Reforms Incentive Fund
Guidelines for PSP and setting up of Regulatory Authority
Introduction of Commercial Accounting System in ULBs & other Sector Reforms
Model Municipal Bye-Laws framed / circulated for benefit of ULBs for adoption
Financial Assistance by Government of India – 12th Finance Commission Grants

Main issues

– Absence of segregation of waste at source

– lack of technical expertise and appropriate institutional arrangement

– Unwillingness of ulbs to introduce proper collection, segregation, transportation and treatment / disposal systems

– Indifferent attitude of citizens towards waste management due to lack of awareness

– Lack of community participation towards waste management and hygienic conditions

– Lack of funds with ulbs

Recommendations

– Outsourcing of all activities under Solid Waste Management Services recommended by 12th Finance Commission for using grants

– ULBs to concentrate on segregation of waste at source

– Waste processing like composting, bio- methanation should be done through public-private partnerships / private sector

– Final disposal viz. sanitary landfilling to be done under public private partnerships / private sector

– Bio-medical waste to be managed by Central Bio- Medical Waste Management Facilities.