Waste Management Under the Legal Framework in India

Abstract

India, the second biggest country in the world, has nearly 1.25 million people living in 29 states and seven union territories covering an area of 3,287,000 sq. km. India's economy grew at an impressive 8.2% in the first quarter of 2018-19. Traditionally, India has the habit of reuse and recycling the materials wherever possible. As the city agglomeration is increasing the waste generation is increasing. The number of towns/cities have increased from 5,161 in 2001 to 7,935 in 2011, whereas the number of metropolitan cities having million plus population has increased from 35 to 53 number as per 2011 census. It is projected that half of India's population will live in cities by 2050. Waste management in India has been experiencing a paradigm shift through the establishment of Swachh Bharat Mission in urban and rural India in 2014 and the revision and establishment of waste management rules in six types of wastes including transboundary movement in 2016. This study presents the overall waste management scenario and the legal framework in India.