Cost analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Management in India

Solid waste management (SWM) is a critical problem for developing countries such as India. It is estimated that India’s current population of 1,200 million will continue to grow at the rate of 3-3.5% per annum. With the per capita waste generation increasing by 1.3% per annum, the yearly increase in waste generation is around 5 % annually. The government is under constant pressure to efficiently handle the ever growing amounts of solid waste and make cost effective changes. Added to constrained budget allotments in the solid waste sector, poor administrative management practices have been a focus of increasing concern (ERM, 2004). A review of literature of SWM in India highlights institutional/financial issues as the most important ones limiting improvements in SWM; Hanrahan et al (2006) specifically notes that “There is an urgent need for much improved medium term planning at the municipal and state level so that realistic investment projections can be developed and implemented.” New methods for cost planning will support waste managers when faced with difficult decisions (Milke, 2006)