Solid Waste Management

One of the most serious issues arising out of the wave of rapid urbanization and the subsequent lifestyle changes is the management of domestic wastes generated. In metro cities in India, an individual produces an average of 0.8 kg/ waste/ person daily. The total municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in urban India has been estimated at 68.8 million tons per year (TPY) (0.573 million metric tonnes per day (MMT/d) in the year 2008).  Not just the amount, but the nature of the solid waste is also changing with increasing share of plastics and packaging materials. The average collection efficiency of MSW ranges from 22% to 60%. Municipal laws governing the urban local bodies are unable to devise adequate provisions to deal effectively with the burgeoning problem of solid waste management. Unregulated landfills or burning of waste leads to serious consequences for health, safety and the environment in human settlements. Emissions form the poorly managed waste also contributes to the global climate change. Adequate waste management is essential for building sustainable and liveable cities, but it remains a challenge for many developing countries and cities as well as India.

GIZ Climate Smart Cities project in the city of Kochi is supporting the city in improving its existing waste management system focusing on the collection and transportation. Training of ULB staffs and College students on various aspects of solid waste management is also a crucial part of the project.