Recent trends in solid waste management status, challenges, and potential for the future Indian cities – A review

Abstract

In recent years, the exponential population growth, high density of urban areas, diverse culture, changing food habits, and lifestyles have seen an unresolved problem in terms of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) in India. Consequently, the municipalities have been facing many other issues related to the collection, treatment, and management of solid waste. The present study is a comprehensive review summarising the present SWM status identifying the associated challenges and deriving potential solutions for the MSWM in the Indian context. The unsorted solid waste at source, social taboo, citizen's attitude, poor assessment, inadequate potential strategies unorganised informal sector of waste, unplanned fiscal, and poor implementation government policies. The discussion in this review article concludes, there is an urgent need for adequate treatment and recycling strategies required to be adopted as per the Indian solid waste composition. The appropriate implications of the potential solutions for MSW at the centralised and decentralised level need to be emphasised through various available of scientific treatment processes. Hence municipalities, along with the involvement of informal sectors, private agencies required to focus on creating potential opportunities and achieves the long term goal of the MSWM sustainability for Indian cities.