Integrated Solid Waste Management:
Municipal Solid Waste
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), commonly known as trash or garbage is a waste type consisting of everyday items we consume and discard. MSW includes commercial and residential wastes generated in municipal or notified areas in either solid or semi-solid form excluding industrial hazardous wastes but including treated bio-medical wastes. It consists of household waste, wastes from hotels and restaurants, construction and demolition debris, sanitation residue, and waste from streets.
MSW Management in India
- Waste generation and storage
- Segregation, reuse, and recycling at the household level
- Primary waste collection and transport to a transfer station or community bin
- Street sweeping and cleaning of public places
- Management of the transfer station or community bin
- Secondary collection and transport to the waste disposal site
- Energy recovery or waste disposal in landfills
In most of the Indian cities, the MSW collection, segregation, transportation, processing and disposal is carried out by the respective municipal corporations and the state governments enforce regulatory policies.
Statistics on Waste Generation and Waste Characterization Data
Estimating the quantity and characteristics of MSW in India and forecasting future waste generation is fundamental to successful waste management planning. The quantity of MSW generated depends on living standards, the extent and type of commercial activity, eating habits and season. India generates approximately 133760 tonnes of MSW per day, of which approximately 91152 tonnes is collected and approximately 25884 tonnes is treated. MSW generation per capita in India ranges from approximately 0.17 kg per person per day in small towns to approximately 0.62 kg per person per day in cities.
| Population |
Waste Generation Rate
(kg per capita per day)
|
| Cities with a population <0.1 million (eight cities) |
0.17–0.54 |
| Cities with a population of 0.1–0.5 million (11 cities) |
0.22–0.59 |
| Cities with a population 1–2 million (16 cities) |
0.19–0.53 |
| Cities with a population >2 million (13 cities) |
0.22–0.62 |
Waste generation rate depends on factors such as population density, economic status, level of commercial activity, culture and city/region. The map of India provides data on MSW generation in different states, indicating high waste generation in Maharashtra (115 364–19 204 tonnes per day), Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal (11 523–15 363 tonnes per day), Andhra Pradesh, Kerala (7683–11 522 tonnes per day) and Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Mizoram (3842–7662 tonnes per day). Lower waste generation occurs in Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Goa, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland and Manipur (less than 3841 tonnes per day).
Legislative Measures
MSW Management in India is governed by Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 followed by Municipal Solid Waste Rule 2016. The responsibility under the MWS Rules, 2000 and 2016 lies with the ULBs and the concerned Departments of Municipal affairs/urban development and collectors are overall responsible to enforce the provisions of these rules.
Practical Issues with Waste Management in India
- Physical characteristics
- Unsorted waste – Mixed waste of bio degradable and non-biodegradable
- Low calorific value
- High moisture content
- Presence of hazardous waste
- Lack of awareness
- Unplanned growth and development of cities
- Land Availability
Challenges for ULBs
- Funds: To establish and operate integrated MSW management facilities
- Technical Expertise: To set up and operate MSW management facilities
- Commercial Competence: To engage the private partner transparently. E.g. Inviting ‘’Expression of Interest’’, ‘’Request for Proposal’ and evaluating the proposal technically and financially
- Finding appropriate Land along with buffer zone for MSW management
Recommended Approaches to Waste Processing & Disposal
- Processing of Organic Waste
- Waste to Compost
- Aerobic / Anaerobic Composting
- Vermi-Composting
- Waste to Energy
- Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF)
- Bio-Methanation
- Recycling of Waste
- Sanitary Land filling
- Treatment of Bio-Medical Waste Separately
To read more about waste management industry in India, Click here:
Waste Management Industry in India
Features
- Increasing urbanization has resulted in considerable growth in the volume of waste generated
- Lot of initiatives have been taken at the corporate level for proper disposal/recycle of wastes
- Increasing interest in waste-to-energy projects
- Urban Local Bodies (ULB) are approaching capital markets
- Private equity have started showing interest in this sector
Key Trends
The Indian Waste Management industry is highly fragmented, with multiple companies servicing very specific geographical regions and providing only a limited number of services. This compares unfavorably with the US market which is highly concentrated (~8 firms account for nearly half of the industry’s total revenue).
High degree of fragmentation in the market and the economic value that could be realized by owning and operating each function within the waste management chain (eg- collections, transfer, disposal etc.) creates opportunities for economies of scale and substantial market share gains. As a result, acquisitions are expected to play a major role in shaping the waste management industry over the next decade or so.
Growing public awareness of the possible environmental dangers will make this business technologically more demanding. Global Companies with access to technology will have a competitive edge. Companies in India and China will increasingly become attractive targets for overseas companies due to the inherent cost advantages.
Waste-to-Energy Projects
Indian Government is taking a lot of interest in Waste-to-Energy projects. Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources is promoting setting up of Waste-to-Energy projects through 2 schemes:
- National Program on Energy Recovery from Urban and Industrial Wastes
Waste management projects in India which are at the execution stage at present include:
- A 300-kW project based on vegetable market waste under construction in Chennai
- Municipal waste processing complex at Ghazipur to produce Refuse Derived Fuel along with power plant of 10 MW capacity
Scarcity of land
- Land requirement for disposing MSW will rise from 200sq. km in 2011 to 1400 sq. km in 2047
- Opportunity cost of using land for MSW disposal in urban areas is very high
- Lack of collection and segregation at source
- Primary collection of waste is not done at the place of generation
- Storage of waste at source is lacking
- Segregation of recyclable waste source not done
Lack of awareness
- Negligible segregation of waste at household level in India as opposed to western countries>
- A Nokia Survey showed that only 17% of cellular phone users in India are aware that handsets can be recycled
Non-scientific disposal of waste by unorganized sector
- Indian Waste Management industry is dominated by the unorganized sector
- Unorganized sector does not use any technology for disposing off the wastes
- It increases environmental problems, labor health issues, scarcity of land, bad odour etc.
India is fast becoming a dumping ground for e-waste
- Cheap labor and lack of proper legislation leading to dumping of e-waste from other countries
- Unorganized players are illegally importing e-waste as licenses have not been issued
Government Regulations and Policies
Ministry of Environment and Forest regulates the waste management industry in India. It has a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and 22 State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) under it. CPCB along with its counterparts SPCBs are responsible for implementation of legislations relating to presentation and control of environmental pollution. SPCBs are responsible for the enforcement of provisions of rules in metropolitan cities. Laws are applicable to all i.e. existing and new ones; many do not fulfill the law and penalties are largely not imposed.
Municipal Waste – It is governed by Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules. It is Applicable to all municipal authorities responsible for collection, segregation, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of municipal solid wastes.
Industrial Hazardous Waste – It is governed by Hazardous & Toxic Waste Handling Rules. This rule makes it mandatory for occupier and the operator of a facility for proper collection, reception, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes.
Biomedical Waste – It is governed by Biomedical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules. It applies to every occupier of an institution generating biomedical waste which includes a hospital, nursing home, clinic, dispensary, veterinary institution, animal house, pathological laboratory and blood bank.
Electronic Waste – There is no separate legislation/policy for e-waste. E-waste management is governed by –
- Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules
- HazardousWastes (Management and Handling) Rules
- Draft Hazardous Materials Rules
- Public Liability Act
Water and Waste Water – PCBs are responsible for prevention and control of water pollution. Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) has provided support to state authorities to curb water pollution and propagate management techniques.
