India: sustainable solid waste management in mountain areas

India is the second largest country in the world in terms of population and is rapidly catching up to the People’s Republic of China. A rapidly increasing population, coupled with sustained economic growth and urbanization, has led to an uncontrolled increase in waste generation in the country. Even within cities, there is a variation in service provision with wealthier neighbourhoods receiving more frequent municipal solid waste (MSW) collection services and street sweeping compared to poorer areas and slums that receive no services. The Government of India has created a number of laws and rules related to solid waste management (SWM) since the early 2000s, but the implementation of solid waste rules in mountainous regions as well as the plains remains a huge challenge. The report discussed the current landscape of SWM sector in India, investigates the current situation regarding SWM in the mountain areas of India, looks at the complexity of managing solid waste in mountain areas as well as the various challenges and opportunities that arise. It presents a framework on which solutions can be steadily build and presents recommendations and related implementable actions along a phased approach. In conclusion it briefly summarizes the role of the World Bank in the SWM sector and how it can provide support to clients to improve SWM services and practices in mountain areas in the South Asia region and elsewhere.