MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN TIER-2 CITIES IN NORTHERN INDIA

Abstract

Public health and environmental concerns, along with the sheer amount of waste being generated, have made managing municipal solid waste (MSWM) a significant task today. Due to institutional and financial constraints, research shows that many urban local bodies (ULBs) in India find it difficult to handle the country's high solid waste loads. ULBs frequently lack the infrastructure, finances, resources, and efficient plans required for improved solid waste management. India faces a number of difficulties in managing its municipal solid waste, including issues with garbage segregation, door-to-door collection, waste treatment technology, land resources, and appropriate disposal techniques. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) have put in place a number of policies and initiatives to address these issues and enhance the nation's municipal solid waste management (MSWM) system as it is now. The Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules were first released by the Environment Ministry in 2000. They have since been updated and are now known as the Solid Waste Management Rules 2015. To help cities and towns plan and execute efficient MSWM systems in compliance with the 2015 SWM Rules amendment, the MoUD has also created a draft MSWM manual. Due to insufficient enforcement by regulators and a lack of awareness among stakeholders, many policies and programmes frequently fall short of their objectives. This essay provides a comprehensive review of solid waste management and highlights important facets of the policies and initiatives the Indian government has put in place to address the issues in this field.