Resource and Climate Protection through integrated Waste Management Projects in Emerging Economies and Developing Countries – Example India

Waste management India

©ifeu_Vogt

The aim of the study "Resource and Climate Protection through integrated Waste Management Projects using India as an example" is to support decision-makers in identifying the potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the waste sector in order to implement their waste management or e.g. National Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and to plan Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) accordingly. The project also addresses whether and how the approach of the life cycle assessment method in waste management (decision support) can be combined with the reporting obligations under the UNFCCC. The latter will likely be required for monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of waste NAMAs, NDCs or funding programs.

Using India as an example, the study refers to three specific cities that were selected for the project according to a catalog of criteria that had been developed. The cities of Bangalore, Bhopal and Haridwar were visited and workshops were held with local stakeholders. On-site visits are important for the best possible understanding of the waste management situation. Workshops and the exchange with the actors on site are essential in order to understand which optimization possibilities exist and, above all, are considered suitable by those affected.

Waste management in emerging and developing countries is often still dependent on landfilling, and in many cases there is no organised waste collection. Rapidly growing cities such as in India and the rapid change in lifestyle due to the increasing consumption of western goods and their packaging lead to the frightening images of littering in cities and the seas.

There are recycling activities, most of which are in the informal sector. Informal recycling has a long tradition, is well organized and market-oriented, but has the disadvantage of sometimes unhealthy working conditions. There are start-ups and very innovative organizations in India that also involve the informal sector in optimized and integrated waste management. Significant challenges for authorities and stakeholders are data gaps, technical problems with implemented plants, lack of capacity, high staff turnover and the lack of funds and systems to cover costs for the planning, implementation and control of integrated municipal waste management.

The study describes the waste management situation in India and in the 3 cities on the basis of which optimization scenarios were developed. The greenhouse gas balances for the scenarios show a high reduction potential. Recommendations were derived from the GHG results and observations, and projections were made for India.