Comprehensive analyses of emissions from open burning of domestic waste over India

Abstract

collection rates are typically under 40%, compared to the nearly 100% collection in high-income nations. Waste composition differs by income level, with high-income countries producing more high-value dry waste that is recyclable or can be thermally recycled while lower-income regions generate mostly organic waste. Uncontrolled dumping and poor waste management in low-income areas result in significant environmental and health risks, including greenhouse gas emissions, groundwater contamination, pathogen spread, and frequent fires, that significantly contribute to the urban air pollution crisis in developing nations. I also provide a detailed introduction to the current state of waste generation and management in India. Officially, India generated 62 Tg of municipal solid waste in 2021 with a high collection efficiency, but only 54% was treated, and the amount informally recycled is not acknowledged as part of the treated fraction. Peer reviewed waste generation estimates for India vary between 215 and 300 Tg for 2015, primarily due to methodological differences that overlook critical factors like income inequality, the urban-rural divide, and cultural practices. GDP per capita is commonly used to predict waste generation, but India’s high income-inequality can skew results by ignoring income and consumption differences across populations and regions. Limited rural data further contributes to these emission estimation uncertainties, as some authors assume urban waste generation rates while other authors assume near zero non-biodegradable waste generation across rural India, complicating accurate planning for waste management infrastructure. Despite policies under the 2016 Solid Waste Management Rules, inadequate infrastructure, inconsistent implementation, and low public awareness hinder effective waste management, leading to ongoing issues with waste segregation, open dumping, and landfill overuse. Open waste burning is prevalent in developing countries as the cheapest way to manage excess waste, particularly where collection services are limited or landfill sites are filled, yet this disposal method is ignored in the world bank assessments of global waste generation and global waste management practices and the emissions from this source are ignored in most global and regional emission inventories. Emission inventories are essential for climate models and air quality policymaking, yet they often overlook open waste burning as a significant pollution source. Studies indicate that open waste burning contributes substantially to global PM2.5 emissions and is a significant source of benzene and formaldehyde in regions like India. As India is going through a period of economic growth and significant policy changes, regular updates to emission inventories are crucial to reflect changes from policy initiatives, such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.