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
- (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.
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