What are the challenges to solid waste management in India ? Discuss the governmental policy framework on solid waste management. Discuss the success/failure cases of Delhi and Indore cities highlighting the salient feature of their solid waste management initiatives. (Answer in 250 words)

- What are the challenges to solid waste management in India ? Discuss the governmental policy framework on solid waste management. Discuss the success/failure cases of Delhi and Indore cities highlighting the salient feature of their solid waste management initiatives. (Answer in 250 words)
Introduction
Solid waste management (SWM) is a major urban challenge in India, where rising consumption and urbanisation generate increasing waste while municipal capacity for segregation, processing and scientific disposal remains uneven.
Body
Major Challenges:
1. Poor source segregation leads to mixing of recyclable, biodegradable and hazardous waste.
2. Inadequate collection, processing facilities and sanitary landfills encourage open dumping.
3. Weak finances and technical capacity of ULBs constrain implementation.
4. Informal waste-pickers remain insufficiently integrated into formal systems.
5. Public apathy, single-use plastics and rapidly growing e-commerce waste add to the burden.
Government Policy Framework:
The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, effective from April 2026, mandate four-stream segregation—wet, dry, sanitary and special-care waste—while introducing extended responsibility for bulk generators, online monitoring and the Polluter Pays principle.
SBM-U 2.0 promotes door-to-door collection, scientific processing, material recovery and remediation of legacy dumpsites towards “Garbage-Free Cities”.
Indore – Success:
Indore achieved extensive source segregation through sustained citizen participation and door-to-door collection. Its 550 TPD Bio-CNG plant converts wet waste into about 17,000 kg Bio-CNG daily, exemplifying “waste-to-wealth” and circular economy.
Delhi – Mixed/Failure Case:
Delhi historically suffered from overloaded Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla dumpsites, weak segregation and landfill fires. However, biomining and remediation have accelerated; Bhalswa alone had remediated 99.07 lakh tonnes by July 2026.
Conclusion
Thus, India needs to replicate Indore’s segregation–processing–citizen participation model, while strengthening municipal capacity, circular economy practices and accountability.