India generates over 62 million tonnes of waste annually, with less than 60 percent collected and only 20 percent treated. As urbanisation accelerates, millions migrate to cities yearly, adopting urban lifestyles that drastically increase waste generation. This trend has created an alarming legacy of waste—landfills encroaching upon city borders and rendering vast swaths of land uninhabitable. Today, India has over 3,000 legacy waste dumpsites, and projections indicate that by 2030, municipal solid waste could reach a staggering 165 million tonnes.
Delhi alone struggles with three towering dumpsites—Ghazipur, Bhalswa, and Okhla—and generates more than 11,000 tonnes of solid waste every day, according to an estimate by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Nearly 6,400 tonnes of this waste ends up in the city's overburdened landfills. Despite several government initiatives, waste continues to accumulate and, eventually, the height of these landfills continues to grow. For instance, the Ghazipur landfill, operational since 1984, now stands tall at a staggering 65 meters. Attempts to remediate these sites have largely failed due to the simultaneous addition of fresh waste.The environmental and health impact of these landfills is severe. Fires caused by methane emissions are common, contributing significantly to air pollution. Residents living near these dumps report higher incidences of respiratory ailments, skin allergies, and water contamination. Studies by organisations such as the Heart Care Foundation of India have shown that the air quality near these sites contains hazardous levels of PM2.5 and PM10, making it difficult for residents to lead healthy lives.
Globally, waste-to-energy (WTE) technology has emerged as a promising solution to the twin problems of waste disposal and energy generation. By converting non-recyclable waste into electricity, heat, or fuel, WTE plants reduce the volume of waste and help mitigate environmental pollution while unlocking the land. Recent reports suggested that India can generate 65 GW of energy annually from waste.India has taken initial steps towards adopting WTE technology. Delhi currently operates four WTE plants that process around 4,500 tonnes of waste daily. However, the scale of operations remains inadequate compared to the total waste generated. Experts suggest that scaling up WTE plants could help address both fresh waste management and legacy waste remediation.
While WTE's potential is undeniable, several challenges hinder its widespread adoption in India. Setting up WTE plants requires significant financial investment, and the technology demands regular maintenance and skilled manpower. Additionally, unlike in developed countries, Indian waste has a high organic and moisture content, reducing its calorific value and making it less suitable for combustion-based WTE technologies. Moreover, WTE plants, if not operated with stringent controls, can emit harmful pollutants, including dioxins and furans, raising environmental and health concerns.Socio-economic factors also play a crucial role. Thousands of ragpickers depend on landfills for their livelihood. Any move towards mechanised waste processing needs to account for their rehabilitation and alternate employment opportunities.
First Published: Jan 24, 2025, 12:59
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