Delhi, India

Quality and Quantity of Waste

With a total area of slightly more than 900 square miles (sq mi) and a population of more than 14 million, Delhi generates 7,000 tons of solid waste every day. The generation rate is about 500 grams per person per day, which is almost five times the national average. Moreover, garbage generation is likely to increase to 18,000 tons by 2021.

For solid waste management purposes, Delhi has been divided into three areas. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has jurisdiction over 868 sq mi, or 94.22 percent of the total area. New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC) has jurisdiction over only approximately 26 sq mi, and Delhi Cantonment looks after another approximately 26 sq mi. MCD is the largest municipal body among the three bodies responsible for waste management in Delhi and has to provide services both to rural areas and a very large urban area. But this does not cover the entire city. There are virtually no arrangements for waste management in squatter settlements, slums, and illegal colonies, which comprise around 50 percent of the urban population in Delhi. As a result, waste is littered in open spaces and drains.

Waste generated from a household depends on the income level and the lifestyle of the people. Delhi households can be divided into a high-income group (HIG), with an income greater than Rs. 8,000 per month; a middle-income group (MIG), with an income between Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 5,000; a low-income group (LIG), with an income less than Rs. 5,000; and slum dwellers.

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