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Case Study of Solid Waste Management in Indian Urban Areas Examination of Law Practice

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2022-05-27
JournalInternational Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology
AuthorsMr. Shubham Kumar, Vashinava Sharma, Nilesh Kumar Gupta
InstitutionsGalgotias University
AnalysisFull AI Review Included

This paper presents a qualitative case study examining the efficacy and implementation of Solid Waste Management (SWM) laws and practices across major urban centers in India. The analysis focuses on the gap between existing legal frameworks and operational realities.

  • Core Problem Identified: Indian urban areas, including major economic hubs like Karnataka (IT capital) and Gujarat (diamond capital), suffer from “abysmal facility of solid waste management.”
  • Study Objective: To investigate the role of government agencies, NGOs, and communities in SWM governance, focusing on the legal framework and practical compliance.
  • Legal Inadequacy: The study suggests a critical need to re-evaluate existing SWM laws to ensure they align with the complex and rapidly evolving needs of urban communities.
  • Methodology: Data was collected via a qualitative approach involving interviews, observation, and questionnaires administered to a diverse sample of 20 stakeholders (legal practitioners, environmental officers, waste collectors, and civilians).
  • Operational Challenges: Key issues include lack of coordination among stakeholders, government laxity, insufficient long-term planning, and the high moisture content (up to 70%) in the waste stream, leading to leachate issues.
  • Key Recommendation: The establishment of an independent, specialized body to address SWM, coupled with the formalization and decentralization of the waste management sector, is crucial for sustainable development.

Since this paper is a legal and policy case study, the “Technical Specifications” relate to the quantitative parameters of the research design and journal metrics, rather than material properties.

ParameterValueUnitContext
Journal ISSN2321-9653N/AInternational Journal For Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
SJ Impact Factor7.538N/AJournal Metric (May 2022)
IC Value45.98N/AJournal Metric (May 2022)
ISRA Journal Impact Factor7.894N/AJournal Metric
Study Sample Size20RespondentsTotal individuals interviewed/surveyed
Study Duration3MonthsLimitation of the study due to time constraints
Waste Humidity (Reported)Up to 70%Characteristic of solid waste identified in literature review (Dulo, S.)
Volume/Issue10 / VN/APublication details (May 2022)

The research employed a mixed-method, qualitative approach focused on legal and practical analysis of SWM systems.

  1. Research Design: Case Study approach focused on examining SWM laws and practices in selected Indian urban centers.
  2. Sampling Strategy (Total N=20): Selection was based on expertise and involvement in the SWM sector, including:
    • Legal Practitioners (3)
    • Environmental Officers (3)
    • NGO Government Waste Collectors (3)
    • Civilians (5)
  3. Data Collection Methods:
    • Interview: Used both structured and unstructured formats to gauge understanding of the SWM problem and potential solutions from stakeholders’ perspectives.
    • Observation: Field observation (35 observations noted) was used to verify interview responses and capture contextual data not accessible through direct questioning.
    • Questionnaire: Employed both closed and open questions for efficient data collection on legal matters across the population.
    • Library Research: Review of existing literature, books, and case studies to establish context and identify solutions implemented elsewhere.
    • Documentary Review: Analysis of confidential and administrative documents related to SWM policy and implementation.

The findings of this policy analysis are critical for engineering firms, consultants, and technology providers operating within the environmental and municipal infrastructure sectors, particularly those focused on developing sustainable SWM solutions.

  • Municipal Infrastructure Development: Designing and implementing decentralized SWM systems, including optimized collection routes, transfer stations, and material recovery facilities (MRFs).
  • Waste-to-Energy (WtE) and Processing: Developing technologies (e.g., incineration, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion) that can effectively handle waste streams characterized by high moisture content (up to 70%) and variable composition.
  • Environmental Consulting and Compliance: Providing services to local governments to align SWM practices with national legal frameworks and international standards, focusing on reducing environmental degradation and leachate generation.
  • Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Structuring and managing effective PPP models for SWM services (collection, treatment, and disposal), requiring clear specifications, monitoring, and control mechanisms.
  • Leachate Management and Remediation: Engineering solutions for treating highly contaminated leachate resulting from poor disposal practices and high moisture content in landfills.
View Original Abstract

Abstract: The case study examine different Indian solid waste management laws and practise in several urban centres of . The main focus of this study is that most of the urban areas in India appear to be heavily affected by poor solid waste , due to lack of proper government effort to tackle the solid waste problem. The most of urban centres of India like Karnataka and Gujarat west Bengal and many more. have abysmal facility of solid waste management facility. As we all know Karnataka is our IT capital and Gujarat is also called the diamond capital of India despite of this achievement, solid waste management is a big issue. Now we have to study exactly how the study is mounted on various lenses. We need to revaluate about the laws, if they can be same as the need of urban communities and also other organization who are involved in waste management or special regulations are needed to reduce the solid waste management problem. For municipal solid waste management, what will be its legal framework? Finally, it is the responsibility of community members and stakeholder to manage solid waste properly several recommendation are drawn from conclusion ,some are the establishment of an independent body to address solid waste management, formalization of this sector is important. Keywords: Waste Management, legal framework, formalization