Unsegregated Municipal Solid Waste in India - Current Scenario, Challenges and Way Forward

Abstract

Solid waste management (SWM) is one of the most neglected aspects and becoming a challenge for India as well as other developing nations’ environment. India is one of the world’s large and fastest-growing economy. Based on the trends in different nations like the US, China and European countries, it is clear that a developing economy of the nation and population of the country is also playing a vital role in the increasing rate of solid waste generation. Unsegregated waste is the root cause of the inefficient municipal solid waste management (MSWM) systems in India. The existing approach to managing the MSW such as collection, transportation and treatment results in poor utilization of resources. This review paper addresses the current status of MSWM in India. In this paper, various issues and challenges to obtain 100 % source segregated municipal solid waste are also discussed through different cases of urban areas. A way forward through an overview of the municipal waste management policies and practices adopted is being presented in the paper.

Keywords

• source segregation mixed municipal solid waste biodegradable waste non-biodegradable waste recyclable waste