An Overview and Challenges of Municipal Solid waste Management in Kolkata Metropolitan Area

Abstract

MunicipalSolidWasteManagement(MSWM), is akeycomponentofsustainableurbandevelopment, and involvessegregation,storage,collection,relocation,transportation,treatment,anddisposal. With the growing number of urban population, Indian cities will have to face different challenges ranging from environmental pollution to solid waste management. ThethreemegacitiesofMumbai,DelhiandKolkatageneratethousandsoftonsofMunicipalSolidWaste(MSW)everyday.Theamountof Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)isexpectedtoincreasesignificantlyinthenearfutureasthecountrybecomesmoreurbanized. Within this context, this paper made an attempt to assess the solid waste management situation in ULBs of Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA). It is found that there is a huge gap between waste generation and collection between the different local bodies. Most municipalities do not segregate their waste while collecting waste from the household. As a result, processing of waste has become impossible. Apart from this, almost 50 percent of municipalities do not have a dumpsite. Only a few municipalities have a composting plant in operation.