IN

INDIA

NEED
OF
THE
HOUR
INTRODUCTIO
N
• Waste management or waste
disposal includes the processes and
actions required to manage waste from its
inception to its final disposal. This includes
the collection, transport, treatment, and
disposal of waste, together with monitoring
and regulation of the waste management
process and waste-related laws,
technologies, and economic mechanisms.
• Waste can either be solid, liquid,
or gases and each type has different
methods of disposal and management.
Waste management deals with all types of
waste, including industrial, biological,
household, municipal,
organic, biomedical, radioactive waste. In
some cases, waste can pose a threat to
human health. Health issues are associated
with the entire process of waste
management. Health issues can also arise
indirectly or directly: directly through the
handling of solid waste, and indirectly
through the consumption of water, soil,
and food. Waste is produced by human
activity, for example, the extraction and
• The aim of waste
management is to reduce the
dangerous effects of such
waste on the environment
and human health. A big part
of waste management deals
with municipal solid waste,
which is created by industrial,
commercial, and household
activity.

• Waste management practices

are not the same across
countries
(developed and developing
nations); regions
(urban and rural areas),
and residential and industrial
sectors can all take different
approaches.
• Proper management of waste
is important for building
sustainable and liveable
cities, but it remains a
challenge for many
developing countries and
cities.

• A report found that effective

waste management is
relatively expensive, usually
comprising 20%–50% of
municipal budgets. Operating
this essential municipal
service requires integrated
systems that are efficient,
 TYPES
OF
1.SOLID WASTE WASTE
• Municipal solid waste (MSW), commonly known as trash or garbage, is a waste
type consisting of everyday items that are discarded by the public. "Garbage" can also
refer specifically to food waste, as in a garbage disposal; the two are sometimes
collected separately.
• The municipal solid waste industry has four
components: recycling, composting, disposal, and waste-to-energy. There is no single
approach that can be applied to the management of all waste streams, therefore
the Environmental Protection Agency, a U.S. Federal government agency, developed a
hierarchy ranking strategy for municipal solid waste. The waste management
hierarchy is made up of four levels ordered from most preferred to least preferred
methods based on their environmental soundness: Source reduction and reuse;
recycling or composting; energy recovery; treatment and disposal.
 2. LIQUID WASTE
Waste water is "Used water from any
combination of domestic, industrial,
commercial or agricultural activities, surface
runoff / storm water, and any sewer inflow or
sewer infiltration". In everyday usage,
wastewater is commonly a synonym
for sewage (also called domestic wastewater
or municipal wastewater), which is
wastewater
Wastewaterthat
mayisalso
produced by water
describe a community
of people. contaminants accumulated in
containing
other settings, such as:
•Industrial wastewater: waterborne waste
generated from a variety of industrial
processes, such as manufacturing
operations, mineral extraction, power
generation, or water and waste water
treatment.
•Cooling water, is released with potential
•Leachate:
thermal pollution after use to condense
precipitation
steam or reduce machinery temperatures by
containing
conduction
pollutants or evaporation.
dissolved
while percolating
through ores, raw
materials, products,
or solid waste.
•Return flow: the
flow of water
carrying suspended
soil, pesticide
residues, or
dissolved minerals
and nutrients from
irrigated cropland.
 • Surface runoff: the flow of water
occurring on the ground surface
when excess rainwater, storm
water, meltwater, or other sources,
can no longer sufficiently rapidly
infiltrate the soil.
• Urban runoff: including water used
for outdoor cleaning activity and
landscape irrigation in densely
populated areas created
by urbanization.
• Agricultural wastewater: animal
husbandry wastewater generated
from confined animal operations.
 HAZARDO
US WASTE
• Hazardous waste is waste that
must be handled properly to avoid
damaging human health or the
environment. Waste can be
hazardous because it
is toxic, reacts violently with other
chemicals, or is corrosive, among
other traits. As of 2022, humanity
produces 300-500 million metric
tons of hazardous waste annually.
Some common examples are
electronics, batteries, and paints.
An important aspect of managing
hazardous waste is safe disposal.
Hazardous waste can be stored in
hazardous waste landfills, burned,
or recycled into something new.
Managing hazardous waste is
important to achieve
worldwide sustainability. Hazardous
waste is regulated on national scale
by national governments as well as
1. RECYCLING
Some hazardous wastes can be recycled into
new products. Examples may include lead–
acid batteries or electronic circuit boards.
When heavy metals in these types of ashes
go through the proper treatment, they could
bind to other pollutants and convert them
into easier-to-dispose solids, or they could be
used as pavement filling. Such treatments
reduce the level of threat of harmful
chemicals, like fly and bottom ash, while also
recycling the safe product.
2. INCINERATION
Incinerators burn hazardous waste at high
temperatures (1600°-2500°F, 870°-1400°C),
greatly reducing its amount by decomposing
it into ash and gases. Incineration works with
many types of hazardous waste,
including contaminated soil, sludge, liquids,
and gases. An incinerator can be built directly
at a hazardous waste site, or more
commonly, waste can be transported from a
site to a permanent incineration facility. The
ash and gases leftover from incineration can
also be hazardous. Metals are not destroyed,
and can either remain in the furnace
or convert to gas and join the gas emissions.
The ash needs to be stored in a hazardous
waste landfill, although it takes less space
than the original waste. Incineration releases
gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen
oxides, ammonia, and volatile organic
compounds.
3. LANDFILL
• Hazardous waste may be sequestered in a
hazardous waste landfill or permanent
disposal facility. "In terms of hazardous
waste, a landfill is defined as a disposal
facility or part of a facility where hazardous
waste is placed or on land and which is not a
pile, a land treatment facility, a surface
impoundment, an underground injection
well, a salt dome formation, a salt bed
formation, an underground mine, a cave, or
a corrective action management unit.

4. PYROLISIS
• Some hazardous waste types may be
eliminated using pyrolysis in a high
temperature not necessarily through
electrical arc but starved of oxygen to avoid
combustion. However, when electrical arc is
used to generate the required ultra heat (in
excess of 3000 degree C temperature) all
materials (waste) introduced into the
process will melt into a molten slag and this
technology is termed Plasma not pyrolysis.
Plasma technology produces inert materials
and when cooled solidifies into rock like
material. These treatment methods are very
expensive but may be preferable to high
temperature incineration in some
circumstances such as in the destruction of
concentrated organic waste types, including
PCBs, pesticides and other persistent
organic pollutants.
 NON
HAZARDOU
S WASTE
• Non-hazardous waste, as the
name implies, is not
dangerous but harms the
environment. It must be
disposed of appropriately to
comply with the rules.
• It includes household waste,
such as food and bathroom
waste, and corporate waste,
such as waste from factories
and farms.
• Waste might be obnoxious,
but it isn’t harmful.
Types of Non-hazardous waste
Waste is generated by burning
fossil fuels, such as coal ash,
natural gas sludge, the by-
product's of mining and mineral
processing, and crude oil.
• INDUSTRIAL WASTE
• ELECTRONIC WASTE
• AGRICULTURAL WASTE
• MUNICIPAL AND SOLID
WASTE
• CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS
• SCRAP TIRES
 BIODEGRADAB
LE WASTE
• Biodegradable waste includes
any organic matter in waste which
can be broken down into carbon
dioxide, water, methane, compost,
humus, and simple
organic molecules by micro-
organisms and other living things
by composting, aerobic
digestion, anaerobic digestion or
similar processes. It mainly
includes kitchen waste (spoiled
food, trimmings, inedible parts),
ash, soil, dung and other plant
matter. In waste management, it
also includes some inorganic
materials which can be
decomposed by bacteria. Such
materials include gypsum and its
products such as plasterboard and
other simple sulphates which can
be decomposed by sulfate reducing
 In domestic waste collection, the
scope of biodegradable waste may
be narrowed to include only those
degradable wastes capable of being
handled in the local waste handling
facilities. To address this, many local
waste management districts are
integrating programs related to sort
the biodegradable
waste for composting or
other waste valorisation strategies,
where biodegradable waste gets
reused for other products, such as
using agricultural waste for fiber
production or biochar.
Biodegradable waste when not
handled properly can have an
outsized impact on climate change,
especially through methane
emissions from anaerobic
fermentation that produces landfill
gas. Other approaches to reducing
the impact include reducing the
amount of waste produced, such as
through reducing food waste.
 NON
BIODEGRADABL
E WASTE
A Non-Biodegradable material can
be defined as a type of material that
cannot be broken down by natural
organisms and serve as a source of
pollution. Unlike biodegradable
wastes, non-biodegradable wastes
cannot be easily taken care of. Non-
biodegradable wastes are those
which cannot be decomposed or
degraded by natural agents. They
remain on earth for thousands of
years without any degradation or
decomposition. Therefore, the threat
caused by them is also more
dangerous. An example is a plastic
which is usually used in almost
every area. To give these plastics a
long-lasting outcome, better quality
plastics are being used. This made
them more temperature resilient
and tougher even after the use.
Since non-biodegradable
wastes are not at all Eco-
friendly, they need to be
replaced or substituted. As a
part of the growth of
alternatives, scientists have
brought forward many
innovative ideas like
biodegradable plastics, etc.
They combined some
biodegradable materials with
plastics and made them easily
and speedily degradable. But
this is quite a costly
procedure. Non-biodegradable
wastes which can be recycled
and can be used again are
known as “Recyclable waste”
and those which cannot be
used again are known as “Non-
recyclable waste”.
BENEFITS OF
WASTE
MANAGEME
NT
1. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT
Waste directly impacts the
environment and its disposal
pollutes the air, water and soil.
Waste management reduces
greenhouse gas emissions and
improves the quality of air and
water, and the condition of any area
affected by the waste.

2.HEALTH BENEFIT
Waste and emissions impact the
health of the exposed nearby
communities, industry personnel
and surrounding animal life in the
long run. Such risks can be averted
with stringent waste management
processes in place that ensure
proper waste disposal and assure
safety.
3. COST BENEFIT
Waste management processes may
be expensive but they facilitate
recycling. In the long run, using
recycled material is more cost-
effective than buying non-recycled
material for industrial use.
4. EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT
Waste management is complex due
to how expansive it can be. The
requirement of labour would open up
employment opportunities across
the country.
5. ENERGY BENEFIT
Energy generated through certain
methods of waste management
compels industries to use less of the
earth's resources that are associated
with manufacturing new materials.
6. EFFICIENCY BENEFIT
Effective waste management
policies ensure that disasters posing
a threat to the general public,
animals, birds and other
surroundings attributed to improper
waste management remain
avoided.
CHALLENGES
OF WASTE
MANAGEMENT
1. HIGH COST
Depending on the amount of waste
generated, waste management can
be an expensive undertaking.
Implementing strategies to reduce
production waste while also
maintaining the quality of products
produced is a way of ensuring cost-
effectiveness.
2. SEGREGATION
Waste segregation is required to be
done at the source to effectively
reap the benefits of its methods. But
due to improper infrastructure,
waste is segregated incorrectly,
resulting in the mixing of hazardous
and non-hazardous waste.
3. UNSAFE SITES
Waste management sites can be unsafe for
workers, the environment, wildlife, aquatic
life and nearby communities alike. Water
contamination, smoke, fire or radioactive
hazards, make waste management sites
unsafe, especially if not managed in a
comprehensive manner.
SOLUTIONS FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT
1. TEAMING UP AND COLLABORATIONS
Waste management methods are complex
and require a lot of supervision. Hiring a
dedicated team that administers these
complex processes with their expertise is
essential because errors are costly.
Furthermore, partnering with similar
organisations that share the same goals
would not just make waste management
more cost-effective but also practical and
efficient
2. PRECISE SEGREGATION
Having systems in place for proper waste
segregation is essential. The separation of
hazardous and non-hazardous waste can be
done by installing bins or supervising waste
disposal sites. This can improve the rate of
recycling, reduce cost and reduce the
overall impact of waste on the environment.
PRINCIPLES OF
WASTE
MANAGEMENT
According to the 5 R's, prior to
'recycling': refuse, reduce, reuse,
repurpose, and then recycle.
1. REFUSE
The first element of the 5 R's hierarchy.
Learning to refuse waste can take some
practice, but incorporating this step into
your business' strategy is the most effective
way to minimize waste. Talk to your
procurement team about refusing to buy
wasteful or non-recyclable products. When
working with vendors, refuse unnecessary
product packaging and request reusable or
returnable containers. Making smarter
purchasing decisions and setting standards
and expectations early in the process makes
it easier for organizations to “refuse” waste
in the first place. An expert fully-managed
waste services partner can make it even
easier for your business.
2. REDUCE
Reduce the use of harmful, wasteful, and
non-recyclable products. Reducing
dependency on these kinds of products
results in less waste materials ending up in
landfill and the associated negative
environmental impacts. We recommend
always using the minimum amount required
to avoid unnecessary waste. For example,
when printing a document, print double-
sided to cut your waste output in half. Other
commonly used items businesses can focus
on reducing include single-use plastics,
plastic packaging, organic waste, and
Styrofoam cups.
3. REUSE
Single-use plastics have created a "throw-
away" culture by normalizing consumer
behavior of using materials once and then
throwing them away. The rate at which we
consume plastics has become unimaginable,
and the plastic crisis has become one of the
world's greatest environmental challenges.
In an effort to reduce waste, reuse items
throughout the workplace instead of buying
new ones. Begin by focusing on one area of
your business at a time, like the break room.
Replace all of the single-use eating
utensils, Styrofoam cups, water bottles, and
paper plates with compostable or reusable
alternatives. Once you master one area,
prioritize reuse for other products in your
facility like packaging peanuts, printer
cartridges, cardboard boxes, food containers,
4. REPURPOSE
For every item that can't be refused,
reduced, or reused, try repurposing it. Many
people in the green community refer to this
method as upcycling. You may be surprised
to learn how many common office products
serve more than one purpose. Sometimes it
requires using some creativity, but the
possibilities are endless. Try using wasted
printer paper for scrap paper, cardboard
boxes for storing supplies, binder clips to
hold power cords and chargers in place, and
even mason jars, coffee mugs, and tin cans
for holding pens and pencils. Designate an
area of your office as an Upcycle Station for
collecting and storing supplies. Encourage
your colleagues to add items to the station
they no longer need and to check there
before purchasing new supplies.
Embrace technology to help find more ideas
and new ways to repurpose your items.
5. RECYCLE
recycling is the most environmentally
friendly waste disposal method. If your
business doesn't already, it should start
collecting cardboard, mixed paper products,
commingled materials (plastics, aluminium,
glass) and organics. Most companies we
speak with are surprised by the amount of
waste they reduce by establishing an
effective recycling program.
METHODS OF
WASTE
DISPOSAL
1. LANDFILLING
Landfills are engineered sites
where waste is buried under
layers of soil or other materials.
Waste is compacted and
covered to reduce its volume
and minimize environmental
impact.
ADVANTAGES
• Landfills are a cost-effective
method for disposing of large
volumes of waste.
• They can accommodate a
wide range of waste types.
LIMITATIONS
• Landfills can lead to groundwater
contamination if not properly
managed.
• Land scarcity in urban areas limits
the availability of suitable landfill
sites.

2. RECYCLING
Recycling involves collecting,
processing, and reusing materials
from waste to manufacture new
products. It typically includes
materials like paper, plastic, glass,
and metals.
ADVANTAGES
• Recycling conserves natural
resources and reduces energy
consumption.
• Recycling creates job opportunities
and promotes environmental
stewardship.
LIMITATIONS
• Recycling requires effective
collection and sorting systems,
which may be costly to implement.
3. COMPOSTING
Composting is the natural decomposition of
organic waste, like food scraps and yard
waste, into a nutrient-rich soil conditioner.
Microorganisms break down the organic
matter into compost.
ADVANTAGES
• Composting reduces the volume of organic
waste in landfills.
• Composting can be done at home or on a
larger scale.
LIMITATIONS
• Not all organic materials are suitable for
composting.
• It may not be suitable for densely
populated urban areas.

4. INCINERATION
Incineration involves burning waste
materials at high temperatures. The process
reduces the volume of waste, generates
energy, and can include air pollution control
measures.
ADVANTAGES
• Incineration can produce energy from waste.
• It minimizes the space needed for landfilling.
LIMITATIONS
• Incineration can release air pollutants and
greenhouse gases.
• It requires a significant initial investment and
ongoing maintenance.

5. SEWAGE TREATMENT
Sewage treatment plants process liquid waste
(sewage) from homes and industries to remove
contaminants and pollutants. It typically
involves physical, chemical, and biological
treatment processes.
ADVANTAGES
• Sewage treatment protects water quality and
prevents waterborne diseases.
• Treated sewage can be safely discharged into
natural water bodies or reused for irrigation.
LIMITATIONS
• Proper maintenance and operation
of treatment plants are essential for
effective treatment.
• Aging infrastructure in many areas
poses challenges to sewage
treatment.

Choosing the right waste disposal

method is crucial, as each method
has its own set of advantages and
limitations. It is essential to consider
the type of waste, local
environmental conditions, and
regulatory requirements when
determining the most appropriate
disposal method. Responsible waste
management involves not only
selecting the right method but also
continually striving to reduce waste
generation, promote recycling, and
minimize the environmental impact
of waste disposal practices.
 WHY WASTE
MANAGEMENT
IS A NEED OF
HOUR IN INDIA
• Managing waste properly is really
necessary to maintain
environmental hygiene and build
sustainable as well as live able
cities. Hence, managing waste
sustainably requires a well-
functioning system that will
provide benefits to the economy,
society, and the environment.
• Sustainable waste management
policy not only ends with
collecting, sorting, and treating
waste but also recycling it to
facilitate a steady source of
energy and resources. As Indian
cities are underway a smart city
revolution, a long-term vision must
be adopted by the civic bodies to
work and rework solid waste
management strategy as per the
As Indian cities are underway a
smart city revolution, a long-
term vision must be adopted by
the civic bodies to work and
rework solid waste management
strategy as per the changing
lifestyle. As such garbage
management in cities requires
the waste to be processed and
recycled instead of landfilled. In
this regard, an integrated solid
waste management strategy
should be followed to move
towards ‘zero-waste production’
and ‘waste prevention’
objectives.
 WASTE
MANAGEMEN
T MARKET
• Waste management market, or waste
industry for short, subsumes
all industrial branches concerned
with waste management, waste
dumping, waste recycling and - to a lesser
degree - waste prevention.
• Within Germany, waste management has
evolved into a large economic sector.
There are more than 270,000 people
working in some 11,000 companies with
an annual turnover of around 70 billion
euros ($78 billion). More than 15,500
waste management facilities help
to conserve resources through recycling
and other recovery operations. On a global
scale, the market size is expected to reach
$530.0 billion by 2025 from $330.6 billion
in 2017, with a compound annual growth
rate of 6.0%. The growth might even
continue when, according to a World
Bank report, global waste production will
grow by 70% from 2018 to 2050, unless
severe measures are taken.
 WASTE
MANAGEMENT
MARKET IN
INDIA
The Indian Waste
Management Market,
Including Garbage Disposal
and Rubbish Management, is
Experiencing Growth Due To
Increased Population and
Industrial Activity. The
Concept of A Circular
Economy is Gaining
Popularity, but the Country
Faces Challenges Due To
Inadequate Policies and
Infrastructure for Debris
Handling and Recycling.
Numerous Startups are
Introducing Innovative
Solutions for Trash Handling,
Aiming To Transform Waste
The India Waste Management Market size is
estimated at USD 12.90 billion in 2024, and is
expected to reach USD 17.30 billion by 2029,
during the analysis from the year 2024 to
2029.
• The Indian waste management market is
experiencing healthy growth due to high
population density and increased industrial
activity, resulting in significant amounts of
both hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
• While the circular economy concept is
relatively new to India, it's gaining
prominence rapidly. The Indian waste
management industry holds immense
potential, with only 30% of the 75%
recyclable waste currently being recycled.
Inadequate policies for waste collection,
disposal, and recycling, coupled with
inefficient infrastructure, contribute to the
poor state of waste management in the
country.
• Numerous startups are emerging with
innovative waste management ideas and
methods for converting waste into valuable
resources. However, effectively addressing
the challenges in this industry requires a
substantial amount of knowledge.
• Increasing population and rapid
urbanization have led to a substantial rise in
waste generation, necessitating efficient
and sustainable waste management
practices.
 IMPACT OF
WASTE
DISPOSAL ON
INDIAN
ECONOMY
Poor waste management - ranging from non-existing collection systems to
ineffective disposal -causes air pollution, water and soil contamination. Open
and unsanitary landfills contribute to contamination of drinking water and can
cause infection and transmit diseases. The dispersal of debris pollutes
ecosystems and dangerous substances from electronic waste or industrial
garbage puts a strain on the health of urban dwellers and the environment.
The solution, in the first place, is the minimisation of waste. Where waste
cannot be avoided, recovery of materials and energy from waste as well as
remanufacturing and recycling waste into usable products should be the
second option. Recycling leads to substantial resource savings.
 SWACHH
BHARAT
MISSION
• Swachh Bharat
Mission (SBM), Swachh Bharat
Abhiyan, or Clean India
Mission is a country-wide
campaign initiated by
the Government of India on 2
October 2014 to eliminate open
defecation and improve solid
waste management and to create
Open Defecation Free (ODF)
villages. The program also aims to
increase awareness of menstrual
health management. It is a
restructured version of the Nirmal
Bharat Abhiyan which was
launched by UPA Government in
2009 that failed to achieve its
intended targets.
• Swachh India Movement (Urban)
aims to free urban India from open
defecation and 100% scientific
 CASE STUDY
OF INDORE
Indore, with a population of over 3.2
million people, generates around
1,100 metric tons of waste daily.
Prior to 2016, the city struggled with
waste management, leading to
unhygienic conditions, increased
pollution, and negative impacts on
public health.
However, the launch of the Swachh
Bharat (Clean India) campaign in
2014 led the Indore Municipal
Corporation (IMC) to undertake a
comprehensive transformation of its
waste management system. This
involved an overhaul of existing
infrastructure, policies, and
community engagement initiatives
to create a more efficient and
environmentally friendly waste
management system.
Challenges faced:
• Lack of waste segregation at
the source
• Inefficient waste collection and
transportation system
• Inadequate public awareness
and participation
• Limited infrastructure for waste
processing and disposal
Solutions implemented
• Segregation at the source
• Door-to-door waste collection
• Public awareness and
participation
• Strict monitoring and
Results achieved:
enforcement
• Waste segregation
• Waste processing
• Cleanliness
• Health and environment
 CONCLUSIO
N
Waste management is key to maintaining a
healthy and clean environment. Effective
trash disposal ensures that waste materials
do not affect our surroundings negatively.
Implementing recycling processes can
reduce the amount of waste produced, hence
limiting environmental pollution. Each
individual, community, and business should
participate in proper waste disposal
practices to protect our health and that of
the environment. The use of renewable
energy sources and technology should be
encouraged to help in waste management.
Cleanliness and recycling campaigns can
educate the public about the importance of
proper waste disposal. It’s high time we all
commit to responsible waste management
for a sustainable future.
ACKNOWLEDGEME
NT

I would like to convey my

heartfelt gratitude to Mr.
Varun Sir for his
tremendous support and
assistance in the completion
of my project. I would also
like to thank Central Board
Of Secondary Education
(CBSE), for providing me
with this wonderful
opportunity to work on a
project with the topic
“WASTE MANAGEMENT IN
INDIA- NEED OF THE HOUR”.
The completion of the
project would not have been
possible without their help
and insights.
BIBLIOGRAPH
Y
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wa
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• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sw
achh_Bharat_Mission
• https://earth5r.org/sustainable-was
te-management-in-indore-a-case-st
udy/
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wa
ste_management
• https://www.wastemanaged.co.uk/
our-news/other/five-rs-of-waste-ma
nagement/#:~:text=The%205%20
Rs%20of%20waste%20manageme
nt%20are%20as%20follows%3A%
20Refuse,waste%20and%20polluti
on%20they%20produce
.
• https://cleanmanagement.com/
service/landfilling/