Solid Waste
Management in
Delhi
Delhi, the capital of India, faces significant challenges in managing its
solid waste. This presentation will explore the current state of solid waste
management in Delhi, highlighting key aspects, challenges, and
strategies for improvement.
by Soumya Chaturvedi
Overview of Delhi's Waste
Generation
1 Municipal Solid 2 Construction and
Waste Demolition Waste
Delhi generates a significant Delhi's rapid development
amount of municipal solid results in a substantial
waste, a large portion of amount of construction and
which comes from demolition waste, further
households, commercial adding to the overall waste
establishments, and burden.
markets.
3 E-Waste 4 Waste Composition
With increasing electronic The composition of waste
device usage, e-waste varies, with organic waste,
generation poses a plastic, paper, and other
significant environmental materials making up a
challenge, requiring significant percentage of the
specialized disposal overall waste stream.
methods.
Waste Collection and
Segregation
1 Door-to-Door Collection
Waste is collected from households and commercial
establishments through door-to-door collection services,
typically using manual labor and traditional vehicles.
2 Community Bins
Community bins are placed in public areas for residents to
dispose of their waste. While these bins are helpful, they
are often poorly maintained, leading to spillage and
unsanitary conditions.
3 Segregation at Source
Encouraging source segregation is crucial. This involves
separating waste into categories like organic, dry, and
hazardous waste, making it easier to process and recycle.
Waste Transportation and
Processing
Collection Centers
Collected waste is transported to designated collection
1
centers, where it is temporarily stored and sorted before
further processing.
Transfer Stations
Waste is often transported to transfer stations for further
2
sorting and compaction before being transported to final
disposal sites.
Waste Treatment Plants
Waste is processed at treatment plants using various
3 methods such as composting, incineration, or landfill
operations. Delhi has a mix of these facilities, each with its
own advantages and drawbacks.
Waste Disposal Methods
Landfilling Incineration Composting
Landfilling remains the most Incineration is another method used, Composting, which converts organic
common method of waste disposal in but it has faced criticism for its waste into useful fertilizer, is gaining
Delhi. Waste is buried in designated potential air pollution. The city has traction. However, the infrastructure
landfills, but these often lack proper limited incineration capacity and for composting on a large scale is still
infrastructure, leading to requires careful monitoring to ensure developing.
environmental concerns. safety.
Recycling and Resource
Recovery
Materials Recycling Methods Challenges
Paper & Cardboard Pulping, re-pulping, Contamination,
and recycling into inadequate
new paper infrastructure, and
products market fluctuations
Plastic Melting and re- Complexity of
forming into new plastic types,
products, challenges in
depending on the separating different
type of plastic types, and demand
for recycled plastic
Metal Melting and re- Contamination,
forming into new challenges in
metal products, recovering metals
depending on the from mixed waste,
metal type and economic
viability of metal
recycling
Challenges and Limitations
Inadequate Financial Constraints
Infrastructure Limited funding often hinders
Insufficient collection and the development of new
sorting facilities, as well as a infrastructure and the
lack of adequate treatment implementation of advanced
plants, are major limitations in waste management
Delhi's waste management technologies.
system.
Public Awareness Enforcement
A lack of public awareness Enforcement of waste
regarding waste segregation, management regulations is
recycling, and responsible often lax, resulting in non-
disposal practices often compliance and illegal
hinders the effectiveness of dumping, further exacerbating
waste management efforts. the problem.
Strategies for Improvement
Promote Recycling Invest in Community Leverage Technology
Implement robust recycling Infrastructure Engagement Utilize technology for waste
programs, encouraging Increase investment in Raise awareness through monitoring, tracking, and
source segregation, waste treatment plants, public campaigns, optimizing collection routes
improving collection collection centers, and educational initiatives, and to enhance efficiency and
infrastructure, and sorting facilities to improve community-based reduce waste leakage.
promoting a circular waste management programs to promote
economy. efficiency. responsible waste disposal
practices.
