Bruna Alves
Research lead covering environment and sustainability
Waste management in India - statistics & facts
India has a waste management problem. Having overtaken China as the largest population in the world – with 1.43 billion inhabitants as of mid-2023 – combined with a growing degree of urbanization, India’s daily municipal waste production has continuously grown, surpassing 160 thousand metric tons in financial year 2021. With millions of tons of waste still ending up in landfills each year and often leaking into the environment, improving management systems in the country is of key importance to guarantee a safe handling and disposal of waste.
Municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the main waste streams, and includes waste generated by households, businesses, and institutions in urban areas. Maharashtra, the second-most populous state in the country, is by far the largest MSW-producing state in India, with volumes surpassing 22,500 metric tons per day as of 2021. Plastic waste is a significant component of MSW due to its widespread use in consumer products, packaging, and various industries. With a total output of nearly 3.5 million metric tons annually, plastic waste generation in India has grown as a significant environmental concern in recent years.
Waste that poses a substantial threat to human health or the environment due to its toxic, corrosive, flammable, or reactive properties is known as hazardous waste. India’s generation of hazardous waste increased more than 30 percent year-on-year in financial year 2022. Similarly, the generation of electronic waste in the South Asian country has also experienced a continual annual growth since 2018, surpassing 1.6 million metric tons in 2022.
Waste generation
In India, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is responsible for regulating and managing waste across the country. Waste is broadly categorized depending on its origin, composition, and environmental impact, with specific rules and compliances in place for safe handling and disposal of the various types of waste.Municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the main waste streams, and includes waste generated by households, businesses, and institutions in urban areas. Maharashtra, the second-most populous state in the country, is by far the largest MSW-producing state in India, with volumes surpassing 22,500 metric tons per day as of 2021. Plastic waste is a significant component of MSW due to its widespread use in consumer products, packaging, and various industries. With a total output of nearly 3.5 million metric tons annually, plastic waste generation in India has grown as a significant environmental concern in recent years.
Waste that poses a substantial threat to human health or the environment due to its toxic, corrosive, flammable, or reactive properties is known as hazardous waste. India’s generation of hazardous waste increased more than 30 percent year-on-year in financial year 2022. Similarly, the generation of electronic waste in the South Asian country has also experienced a continual annual growth since 2018, surpassing 1.6 million metric tons in 2022.
Waste treatment
India processed more than 75 percent of the total waste generated in the country in financial year 2023. Nevertheless, as India’s recycling rates for different types of waste hardly surpass 30 percent, landfilling is oftentimes the number one approach. For instance, only 20 percent of plastic waste in India is recycled. Meanwhile, the South Asian country is home to some one of the largest landfills in the world, such as the Mumbai and New Delhi landfills. Other common methods of waste treatment in the country include incineration or composting. As of financial year 2023, there were 73 compost plants under construction in India, with an additional 2,285 already in operation. Altogether, effective waste management often involves a combination of different treatment methods tailored to the specific characteristics of a particular waste stream.
