Municipal Solid Waste Management in India: Challenges and Solutions

In India, municipal governments are responsible for managing household waste, but many have outsourced this task to local waste management firms. These firms are responsible for handling the majority of municipal waste, including transportation, landfills, composting and incineration plants, and waste advisory.

As urbanization continues to grow, municipalities are beginning to develop in-house waste management skills to control and segregate waste. The government plays an important role in developing and implementing policies, projects, and regulations, as well as providing technical and financial support for infrastructure projects such as municipal solid waste (MSW) management in urban areas.

Despite these efforts, only around 75-80% of municipal waste is collected, and only 22-28% of that is handled and treated. According to the central government, India generates around 65 metric tons of waste annually, with over 62 metric tons being MSW, including organic waste and recyclables such as paper, plastic, wood, and glass. This highlights the need for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to develop a comprehensive and detailed MSWM strategy.

The management of municipal solid waste is one of the main functions of all ULBs in India. All ULBs need to meticulously plan, implement, and monitor all systems of urban service delivery, especially that of municipal solid waste. This requires financial resources, technical capacities, and land availability.

The Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) is one approach to managing solid waste, which depends on the volume and quality of waste collected in a municipality, relevant financial resources, and the municipal government’s in-house capabilities to monitor project execution.

However, the challenge of waste management in India is significant. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, India produces 26,000 tons of waste each day, with 10,000 pieces going uncollected. Additionally, the quantity of plastic waste created in the country in 2011 was 56 million tons per year, which is projected to reach 200 million tons per year by 2041.

To address these challenges, the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has been introduced. EPR is a strategy that holds manufacturers responsible for an item’s post-consumer cycle, including specific chores of independent collection and reuse of waste or hazardous substance elements. EPR initiatives are mandatory, as per the notification of the government. Retail take-back schemes, for example, participation at the national and state levels, is necessary to ensure the success of EPR projects.

Although recycling has become the industry’s responsibility, corporations are attempting to boost consumer recovery, recycle, and reduce the usage of harmful components. The enhanced product stewardship policy mandates manufacturers to recycle a certain proportion of the obtained material by weight of a given volume. In addition to allocating duty for product disposal, product recycling minimizes the energy required to manufacture raw materials and components.

Wastech India provides an eco-friendly waste management solution in the form of EPR service. Wastech’s EPR service involves assisting with waste collection, segregation, transportation, and disposal in rural and urban areas throughout India. Wastech has successfully disposed of over 10,000 million tonnes of waste from various states using this service, and the number is growing. This solution not only removes waste from landfills and waterways but also helps businesses cope with waste that is time-consuming and costly.

In conclusion, waste management in India is a significant challenge, but there are solutions available, including developing comprehensive and detailed MSWM strategies, adopting the ISWMS approach, and introducing EPR initiatives. These efforts will not only benefit the environment but also contribute to the economic growth and development of the country.