Open Burning Of Municipal Solid Waste And Its Contribution To Urban Air Pollution In India: A Legal Analysis
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 27
- 2 min read
S. Dinesh Kumar, M S Ramaiah University Of Applied Sciences
ABSTRACT
Solid waste management is one of the most important services for preserving urban areas' quality of life and guaranteeing higher levels of cleanliness and health. Due to the antiquated and ineffective systems used, this service in India is not up to par. Insufficient coverage, poor technology selection, institutional weakness, a lack of financial and human resources, and a lack of both short- and long-term planning are the causes of the insufficiency of service. Particularly in developing nations like India, open burning of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a possible non-point source of emissions that raises more concerns.Lack of knowledge on the effects of open burning on the ecosystem One of the main obstacles to an effective municipal solid waste management system in India is the belief that "open burning a source of emission of carcinogenic substances."
The open burning of MSW in India is highlighted in the paper, along with the current and anticipated emissions of ten major pollutants (dioxin, furans, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and 1-hexene). The waste to energy potential of MSW was also estimated using efficient biological and thermal techniques. The data was analysed using statistical methods, and the present and anticipated emissions of several contaminants were calculated. Seven Union Territories and 29 States had their population, MSW generation, and collection efficiency data gathered. The study offers suggestions and analysis on the viability, difficulties, and possibilities of implementing waste-to- energy (WtE) systems in the Indian setting. The results of this study help local authorities find practical solutions to integrate WtE technology by providing a basis for additional optimization studies of MSW from a WtE viewpoint. In order to help municipalities make the shift to cleaner, energy- secure smart cities more seamless, this assessment provides a baseline.
Keywords: Municipal solid waste, Urban air pollution, solid waste management, public health
