Variance of “municipal solid waste generation and constraints in its scientific management” in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India – A case study

Abstract

In general the waste is a material that cannot be used or which is no longer of use. In a broader sense, there is nothing like a waste but it is a misplaced resource. It is important to understand the waste generation and its composition for its proper management. Minimization of waste generation through optimization of process, recycle and reuse are the basic principles of the Waste Management. Remarkable increase in quantity & change in characteristics of municipal solid wastes (MSW) has taken place over the last two decades. This paper presents an assessment of the existing situation of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in urban local bodies of the Madhya Pradesh, India. Information regarding the MSW generation in the State, collected from the local bodies and analyzed for assessment of the status of management. The estimated MSW generation in the State is around 4500 MTd -1. In general practices, the collection of the waste is around 60% -70%. Almost all the local bodies are having vehicles for the transportation of the waste collected as the road sweepings or in the garbage bins. There are few local bodies which are having partial facilities for the processing of the MSW. Most of the local bodies have identified land for the development of MSW disposal sites; one Municipal Corporation is having partial door to door collection facility and has developed facilities for proper collection, transportation, segregation and processing to adopt the best practices of management. The composition of the MSW changes according to the size of the local body, the biodegradable component increases with the increase in the population and size of the town. The Nagar Panchyats, the smallest units of the urban local bodies, are lacking in the facilities & knowledge required for the environmental management of municipal solid waste.