Solid Waste Management in India has become a critical issue due to rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, and population growth. Effective waste management is essential to protecting the environment and public health and promoting sustainable development. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Solid Waste Management in India, its current status, initiatives taken, related laws and rules, challenges, and other related concepts. 

• Solid waste can be defined as the unwanted or useless solid materials generated from various human activities in residential, industrial or commercial areas.
• As per the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA), “solid waste” consists of the following elements:
• Garbage.
• Residue occurs from treatment plants and pollution control facilities.
• Discarded substances, generally from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural activities.
• Solid Waste Management (SWM) encompasses all the activities required to manage waste from its generation to its final disposal.
• This includes the whole chain of collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste.
• Solid Waste Management in India is a shared responsibility involving the Central Government, State Governments, and Local Authorities.
• Each level has a specific role to play in ensuring effective and sustainable waste management practices, as listed below:

Role of Central Government

• To set national standards and guidelines for waste management.
• To provide technical assistance and financial support to state governments.
• To monitor and evaluate the performance of waste management programs across the country.
• To promote research and development in waste management technologies.

Role of State Government

• To formulate and implement waste management policies at the state level.
• To provide financial resources for waste management initiatives.
• To oversee the implementation of waste management programs and projects.
• To coordinate with local authorities and municipalities to ensure effective waste collection and disposal.

Role of Local Authorities

Local Authorities are responsible for day-to-day operations of solid waste management in India, including:

• Waste collection from households and businesses.
• Transportation of waste to treatment facilities or landfills.
• Operation of waste treatment plants and landfills.
• Enforcement of waste management regulations at the local level.

Current Status of Solid Waste Management in India

• It is estimated that about 62 million tonnes of waste is generated annually in the country, which includes:
• 5.6 million TPA of plastic waste,
• 0.17 million TPA of biomedical waste,
• 7.90 million TPA of hazardous waste, and
• 15 lakh TPA of e-waste.
• The per capita waste generation in Indian cities ranges from 200 grams to 600 grams per day (2011).
• Of the 62 million tonnes of waste generated annually in India, only around 43 million TPA is collected, 11.9 million is treated, and 31 million is dumped in landfill sites.
• Thus, only about 75-80% of the municipal waste gets collected and out of this only 22-28 % is processed and treated and the remaining is disposed of indiscriminately at dump yards.
• It is projected that by the year 2031, the Municipal Solid Waste generation shall increase to 165 million tonnes per year and to 436 million tonnes per year by 2050.
• If cities continue to dump the waste at the present rate without treatment, they will need 1240 hectares of land per year, and with the projected generation of 165 million tons of waste by 2031, the requirement of setting up landfills for 20 years of 10 meters height will require 66,000 hectares of land.

Measures Taken for Solid Waste Management in India

Various steps taken to improve solid waste management in India can be seen under the following heads:

• Policy and Legal Framework: Several rules have been framed and notified for the proper disposal of various categories of solid wastes.
• Some of the prominent ones include – Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016; Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016; Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, etc.
• Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has been launched as a national-level program to make the country cleaner by improving waste management systems, promoting source segregation, and encouraging waste processing.
• Public Awareness and Education: Campaigns for public awareness and education have been launched under various government programs to raise public awareness about the importance of cleanliness and waste management.
• Infrastructure Development: Waste management infrastructures are being developed by the government under various schemes and programs.
• As per information available for 2013-14, compiled by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), municipal authorities have so far only set up 553 compost & vermicompost plants, 56 bio-methanation plants, 22 RDF plants and 13 Waste to Energy (W to E) plants in the country.
• Research and Innovation: The government is supporting research and development in new waste processing technologies, recycling methods, and sustainable materials.
• Innovation challenges and hackathons are also being organised to encourage startups and entrepreneurs to develop innovative waste management solutions.
• International Collaboration: India is collaborating with international organisations and countries to adopt best practices in waste management, access new technologies, and secure funding for large-scale projects.

Challenges in Solid Waste Management in India

• Inadequate Infrastructure: The most prominent challenge of solid waste management in India is the lack of adequate infrastructure for waste collection, transportation, and disposal.
• Many cities and towns have insufficient garbage collection systems, leading to uncollected waste accumulating in public spaces.
• Financial Constraints: Municipal bodies often face financial constraints in managing solid waste.
• Budget limitations hinder the development of modern waste management infrastructure and the implementation of advanced technologies.
• Low Awareness and Public Participation: Public awareness about waste segregation, recycling, and proper disposal is low.
• This results in mixed waste being dumped indiscriminately, making it difficult to recycle or manage effectively.
• Inefficient Waste Segregation: Waste segregation at the source is crucial for effective solid waste management.
• However, in India, segregation practices are often neglected, leading to mixed waste that complicates recycling and disposal processes.
• Limited Recycling Facilities: Recycling facilities in India are limited, and the informal sector plays a significant role in waste recycling.
• However, the informal sector lacks proper regulation, leading to inefficient recycling practices and poor working conditions.
• Landfill Overuse: Most solid waste in India ends up in landfills, many of which are poorly managed and overflowing.
• This not only takes up valuable land but also poses significant environmental hazards, such as groundwater contamination and greenhouse gas emissions.

Way Forward

A multi-pronged approach is needed to improve solid waste management in India. The following measures can help in this regard:

• Strengthening Infrastructure: Investment in modern waste management infrastructure, including collection, transportation, and treatment facilities, is essential.
• Public-private partnerships can play a vital role in this regard.
• Enhancing Public Awareness: Education and awareness campaigns are crucial to encourage waste segregation at the source and promote responsible waste disposal practices.
• Promoting Decentralised Waste Management: Decentralized systems, such as community composting and small-scale recycling units, can help reduce the burden on centralised facilities and promote local participation.
• Integrating the Informal Sector: The informal sector should be integrated into the formal waste management system, with proper regulations and support to improve efficiency and working conditions.
• Policy Reforms: Continued policy support, including stricter enforcement of existing laws and the introduction of new regulations, is needed to ensure sustainable waste management practices.
• Integrated Waste Management: Implementing an integrated approach that combines waste reduction, recycling, composting, and disposal can enhance efficiency and sustainability.
• Innovative Technologies: The adoption of innovative technologies for waste processing can help not only in proper waste management but also derive value from it.
• As per the Report of the Task Force of the erstwhile Planning Commission, the untapped waste has the potential of generating 439 MW of power from 32,890 TPD of combustible wastes, including Refused Derived Fuel (RDF), 1.3 million cubic metres of biogas per day, or 72 MW of electricity from biogas and 5.4 million metric tonnes of compost annually to support agriculture.

Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016

• The Rules are now applicable beyond Municipal areas and extend to urban agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships, areas under the control of Indian Railways, airports, airbase, Port and harbour, defence establishments, special economic zones, State and Central Government organizations, places of pilgrims, religious & historical importance.
• The source segregation of waste has been mandated to channelize the waste to wealth by recovery, reuse and recycling.
• Responsibilities of Generators have been introduced to segregate waste into three streams: Wet (Biodegradable), Dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, wood, etc.) and domestic hazardous wastes (diapers, napkins, empty containers of cleaning agents, mosquito repellents, etc.) and handover segregated wastes to authorised rag-pickers or waste collectors or local bodies.
• No person should throw, burn, or bury the solid waste generated by him on streets, open public spaces outside his premises, or in the drains or water bodies.
• The generator will have to pay a ‘User Fee’ to the waste collector and for ‘Spot Fine’ for Littering and Non-segregation.
• The concept of partnership in Swachh Bharat has been introduced. Bulk and institutional generators, market associations, event organisers, hotels and restaurants have been made directly responsible for segregation and sorting the waste and managing it in partnership with local bodies.
• Biodegradable waste should be processed, treated, and disposed of as much as possible through composting or bio-methanation within the premises. The residual waste shall be given to the waste collectors or agency as directed by the local authority.
• All manufacturers of disposable products such as tin, glass, plastics packaging etc. or brand owners who introduce such products in the market shall provide necessary financial assistance to local authorities for the establishment of the waste management system.
• Non-recyclable waste having a calorific value of 1500 K/cal/kg or more shall not be disposed of in landfills and shall only be utilised for generating energy either through refuse-derived fuel or by giving away as feedstock for preparing refuse-derived fuel.
• High calorific wastes shall be used for co-processing in cement or thermal power plants.
• Special Provision for Management of Solid Waste in Hilly Areas: Construction of landfills on the hill shall be avoided. A transfer station at a suitable enclosed location shall be setup to collect residual waste from the processing facility and inert waste.
• Suitable land shall be identified in the plain areas, down the hill, within 25 kilometres for setting up a sanitary landfill. The residual waste from the transfer station shall be disposed off at this sanitary landfill.

Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016

• The Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, are a set of regulations that govern the management of biomedical waste in India.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notified us of these rules in 2016.
• It came into force on 31st December 2016.

Objectives

• The primary goal of these regulations is to enhance the management of biomedical waste based on the 3Rs principle, which stands for reduce, recycle, and reuse.
• It tries to segregate the trash, recover or reuse it to the greatest extent possible, and prevent disposal.
• Instead of employing the “end of pipe method,” these guidelines seek to address wastes at their source or point of origin.
• These recommendations primarily concentrate on the implementation and enforcement of laws and rules for the benefit of both the environment and people.

Key Provisions

• The rules mandate the segregation of biomedical waste into separate categories. This includes general waste, hazardous waste, and biotechnological waste. Proper segregation as per prescribed colour codes is required.
• All persons handling biomedical waste have to get authorisation from the prescribed authorities.
• The rules prescribe standards for on-site and off-site treatment and disposal of different categories of biomedical waste.
• The rules mandate the barcoding and tracking of all biomedical waste. This ensures safe transportation to final treatment sites.
• The rules specify the duties of health workers in the safe handling of biomedical waste.
• The rules prescribe penalties for violating provisions related to the disposal of biomedical waste.
• The rules specify the duties of local authorities in monitoring biomedical waste management.
• The rules mandate the setting up of state-level monitoring committees.

Solid waste management in India is a pressing challenge with significant implications for the environment, public health, and sustainable development. While the government has made notable efforts to address this issue, much work remains to be done. A coordinated approach involving government agencies, the private sector, and the public is essential to create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for the country.