Legacy Waste Management in India

Legacy waste refers to large amounts of untreated or improperly managed waste accumulated over decades in open dumps or landfills in India. These dumps, often found near cities, consist of municipal solid waste (household waste), industrial waste, hazardous materials, and construction debris. Legacy waste poses significant environmental, public health, and governance challenges. Read here to learn more.

Launched with much fanfare, the legacy waste management project of the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 has been a slow starter, with only 470 out of 2,424 dumpsites completely remediated and an area of 16% reclaimed, three years since the mission was rolled out.

The Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 (SBM 2.0) initiative, launched to address legacy waste through scientific waste remediation and land reclamation, has made only limited progress.

Slow Progress of legacy waste management of SBM 2.0

According to the data from the Mission’s official dashboard, out of 2,424 identified dumpsites containing more than 1,000 tonnes of legacy waste across India, only 470 dumpsites have been successfully remediated, reclaiming about 16% of the targeted land.

• Technical and Infrastructure Deficits: Many municipalities, especially in smaller cities, lack the necessary technology and infrastructure to process large amounts of waste effectively.
• Financial Constraints: Remediation projects require substantial investments, particularly in terms of setting up waste-processing facilities and bio-mining equipment. Not all states have been able to mobilize these resources effectively.
• Administrative Hurdles: Coordination among local, state, and central authorities has proven difficult. Legacy waste remediation projects are often delayed due to regulatory approvals and the complex management structure involved in such large-scale initiatives.
• Lack of Expertise: Bio-mining and scientific remediation of legacy waste requires specialized knowledge, which many local bodies do not possess. This has hampered the pace of waste segregation and treatment.

SBM 2.0 Objectives

The mission aims to process legacy waste to reclaim land and transform it for urban development or green spaces.

• The success of projects like those in Indore and Surat has showcased the potential for reclaiming land through systematic waste processing, yet scaling this model across the country remains a challenge.
• To accelerate progress, there is a growing need for investment in waste management technologies, capacity-building for municipal staff, and stronger accountability measures to ensure timely remediation efforts.
• These issues reflect the urgent need to address legacy waste comprehensively and efficiently to prevent further environmental degradation and health risks across urban India.

Action plans amounting to ₹3,226 crore of Central Share (CS) assistance on remediation of legacy waste dumpsites have been approved so far.

• An advisory has also been issued to States and Union Territory administrations on landfill reclamation.
• As per financial norms of Centrally sponsored Schemes, State and U.T. governments are required to put in matching shares from their side, while disbursing the funds to respective urban local bodies.

Key Issues Associated with Legacy Waste

Environmental Impact:

• Leachate Contamination: Toxic leachate generated by the decomposition of waste seeps into the soil and groundwater, contaminating water sources. This affects agriculture and drinking water supplies.
• Methane Emissions: Legacy waste sites release significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to climate change.
• Air Pollution: The burning of waste in open landfills results in the emission of toxic gases like dioxins and furans, which are harmful to human health.

Health Hazards:

• Waste dumps are breeding grounds for disease-carrying pests, and the open burning of waste contributes to respiratory issues.
• Communities living near these sites are exposed to health risks, including cancer, respiratory disorders, and skin diseases.

Space Constraints:

• As cities expand, legacy waste occupies valuable urban land that could otherwise be used for development or green spaces. Municipalities are often forced to allocate new sites for waste dumping, which exacerbates the issue.

Government Initiatives to Address Legacy Waste

• Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban): Under this mission, the government has initiated steps to remediate old landfills. One approach is bio-mining, where waste is segregated, and recyclable materials are recovered while organic waste is used to create compost or refuse-derived fuel (RDF).
• Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016: These rules aim to enforce better waste segregation and the remediation of legacy waste dumps. They encourage the treatment of waste before disposal and the closure or redevelopment of old dumpsites.
• Circular Economy Approach: The government is pushing for a shift towards a circular economy, promoting the reuse, recycling, and recovery of materials from waste. This could help reduce the amount of waste going to landfills in the future.
• Success Stories: Some cities in India have already started tackling legacy waste. For example, Indore has successfully remediated its landfill through bio-mining and has become a model city in solid waste management. Similarly, the Bhalaswa landfill in Delhi is undergoing efforts for waste remediation and management.

Challenges

With almost no installed facility in India for handling solid waste, the municipal corporations, municipal councils and Nagar panchayats have traditionally opted for creating man-made garbage hills.

These dumpsites were originally developed on the outskirts of the cities.

However, with the expansion of the cities over decades, the dumpsites are now often found in the heart of cities on barren land or in landfills and can pose significant environmental and health risks.

• High Cost: Waste remediation, including bio-mining and setting up waste processing plants, requires significant financial investment.
• Coordination: Effective waste management requires coordination between multiple agencies at the local, state, and central levels.
• Lack of Technology and Expertise: Many municipalities lack the technical expertise and infrastructure required to process and manage legacy waste.

Conclusion

While India has made progress in addressing the legacy waste problem through various initiatives and policies, significant challenges remain. Effective management of legacy waste is critical for improving public health, environmental sustainability, and urban development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What are the categories of legacy waste?

Ans: Legacy waste can be categorized into four types: Contained and/or stored waste, Buried waste, Contaminated soil and groundwater, and Contaminated building materials and structures.

Q. How can legacy waste be processed?

Ans: Some methods for processing legacy waste include: Bioremediation, Biomining, Stabilization, and Screening.

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-Article by Swathi Satish