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Municipal solid waste management in Indian cities - A review
Mufeed Sharholy1, Kafeel Ahmad, Gauhar Mahmood
1Department of Civil Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, Central University, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025, India.
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|April 17, 2007
Summary
Indian cities face significant municipal solid waste management (MSWM) challenges, with 90% of waste improperly disposed of. This review examines MSW characteristics, disposal, and treatment technologies to identify problems and suggest improvements.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Urban Planning
- Waste Management
Background:
- Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is a critical environmental issue in Indian urban areas.
- Unscientific disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW), primarily in open dumps, poses severe public health and environmental risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive review of MSW characteristics, generation, collection, transportation, disposal, and treatment technologies in India.
- To evaluate the current status of MSWM in Indian cities and identify key challenges.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and critical analysis of existing studies on MSWM in India.
- Evaluation of various MSW treatment technologies, including their benefits and drawbacks.
Main Results:
- Approximately 90% of MSW in India is disposed of unscientifically.
- A critical review of current MSW treatment technologies highlights their respective advantages and limitations.
Conclusions:
- The study identifies significant problems in India's current MSW management system.
- Recommendations are provided to encourage authorities and researchers to enhance MSWM practices and systems.
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