Why is it in the news?

• Delhi, the national capital of India, is grappling with a severe solid waste management (SWM)

More about the news

• The city generates approximately 13,000 tonnes of waste per day (TPD), which amounts to about 1,400 truckloads daily or 42 lakh tonnes annually. This figure is expected to rise to 17,000 TPD by 2031 due to the increasing population, projected to reach 2.85 crore.
• Around 90% of Delhi’s waste is collected by three municipal corporations: the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi Cantonment Board, and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation. The waste comprises about 50-55% biodegradable wet waste, 35% non-biodegradable dry waste, and 10% inert materials.

Processing Capacity and Challenges

• Delhi’s waste-processing facilities, located at Okhla, Bhalswa, Narela, Bawana, Tehkhand, SMA Industrial Area, Nilothi, and Ghazipur, have a combined design capacity of 9,200 TPD. This includes composting facilities for around 900-1,000 TPD and waste-to-energy projects for 8,200 TPD.
• However, 3,800 TPD of unprocessed waste is disposed of in the city’s three main landfills: Gazipur, Bhalswa, and Okhla, leading to serious environmental and health hazards.
• The legacy waste in these landfills has accumulated to 2.58 crore tonnes over 200 acres, generating methane, leachates, and causing frequent landfill fires.
• Biomining efforts initiated in 2019 to reduce this waste were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the task, initially set to be completed by 2024, is now expected to take another two to three years.

Key Issues in SWM

• Lack of Segregation: There is inadequate segregation of waste at the source, with mixed waste being sent to landfills.
• Space Constraints: Waste processing plants require large land parcels, which are scarce in Delhi.
• Public Awareness: Insufficient public awareness leads to improper disposal habits and littering.
• Inconsistent Collection: Irregular waste collection services in some areas exacerbate the problem.
• Illegal Dumping: Illegal dumping in open areas and water bodies increases the burden on municipal resources.
• Coordination Issues: A lack of coordination among various municipal bodies hampers efficient waste management.

Required Actions and Solutions

To manage the mounting waste crisis, Delhi needs to scale up its processing capacity to handle 18,000 TPD by 2031. Some of the recommended steps include:

• Segregation at Source: Encourage households and commercial establishments to segregate waste into wet and dry categories.
• Expand Processing Facilities: Increase the capacity of composting and biogas plants to handle 9,000 TPD of biodegradable wet waste. This will require setting up at least 18 new composting or biogas plants.
• Waste-to-Energy Projects: Use refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from non-recyclable dry waste to generate power, despite higher costs, to mitigate environmental impacts.
• Decentralized Processing: Establish Micro-Composting Centres (MCC) and Dry Waste Collection Centres (DWCC) at the ward level, similar to models in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Bengaluru.
• Regional Partnerships: Collaborate with neighboring states for setting up composting plants and finding markets for organic compost.
• Learning from Best Practices: Adopt successful waste management practices from other cities in India and abroad.

Conclusion

• Delhi’s waste management crisis demands immediate and sustained efforts to enhance processing capacity, enforce segregation at the source, and incorporate decentralized processing solutions.
• With proper planning, coordination, and public awareness, Delhi can tackle its waste challenge and mitigate its adverse environmental and health impacts.