Solid Waste Management In India
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 increasing between 3 – 3.5% per annum
– Yearly 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 generation rate at 0.4 kg per capita per day in 0.1 million plus towns.
– Collection efficiency ranges between 50% to 90% of the solid waste generated.
– Urban Local Bodies spend around 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
* Hardly any fund is spent on treatment and disposal of waste
– Crude dumping of waste in most of the cities
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 vary from city to city depending on food habits
PRESENT STATUS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
– STORAGE OF WASTE AT SOURCE IS LACKING
– DOMESTIC WASTE THROWN ON STREETS
– TRADE WASTE ON ROADS / STREETS
– CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS LEFT UNATTENDED
– BIO-MEDICAL WASTE DISPOSED IN MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM
– INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISPOSED OF IN OPEN AREAS
– SEGREGATION OF RECYCLABLE WASTE AT SOURCE NOT DONE
– PRIMARY COLLECTION OF WASTE NOT DONE AT PLACE OF GENERATION
– DESIGN & LOCATION OF MUNICIPAL WASTE STORAGE DEPOTS INAPPROPRIATE, RESULTING IN LITTERING OF GARBAGE .
– STREET SWEEPING NOT DONE EVERYDAY
– WASTE TRANSPORTATION DONE IN OPEN VEHICLES
– WASTE PROCESSING PARTIALLY PRACTISED IN 35 ULBs ONLY
– FINAL DISPOSAL DONE THROUGH CRUDE DUMPING
– RAG PICKERS COLLECT RECYCLABLES FROM MUNICIPAL BINS / DUMPSITES AND LITTER THE WASTE CAUSING INSANITARY CONDITIONS
REASONS FOR IMPROPER MANAGEMENT OF WASTE
v Lack of planning for waste management while planning townships
v Lack of proper institutional set up for waste management, planning and designing in urban local bodies
v Lack of technically trained manpower
v Lack of community involvement
v Lack of expertise and exposure to city waste management using modern techniques / best practices
v Lack of awareness creation mechanism
v Lack of Management Information Systems
v Lack of funds with ULBs
v Indifferent attitude of ULBs to levy user charges and sustainability
RECOMMENDED 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) Easy to operate & maintain by local community
(v) Long term sustainability
RECOMMENDED 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 TREATMENT OF BIO-MEDICAL WASTE SEPARATELY
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
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