Tackling the waste problem

Municipal garbage is rising at an alarming rate in Indian cities, raising concerns about public health and the economy

As the world gets more and more urbanised, a significant challenge is presented in the form of municipal waste. Municipal solid waste (MSW), one of the most significant by-products of an urban lifestyle, is increasing even more quickly than the rate of urbanisation as the world races towards an urban future.

A report by the World Bank, “What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management”, stated that 2.9 billion people lived in metropolitan areas 10 years ago, producing 0.64 kg of MSW per person daily (0.68 billion tonnes annually). However, around 3 billion people live in cities today, producing as much as 1.2 kg of municipal solid waste per person per day (1.3 billion tonnes per year). By this estimate, one can draw a dark conclusion that by 2025, 2.2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste could be produced as the urban population rises to 4.3 billion.