Solid waste is the discarded or left over or unusable solid material arising from human and animal activities in residential, agricultural, industrial or commercial areas. The solid waste generation has increased over the years due to increase in population, rapid industrialization and change in lifestyle, etc.
In India, 147,613 metric tonnes (MT) of solid waste is generated per day, (“Swachhata Sandesh Newsletter”, January 2020, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India). The per capita waste generation is 450 grams per day and has increased at a rate of 1.3 percent per annum. It is estimated that urban India will generate 4,50,132 tonnes per day (TPD) by 2031; and 11,95,000 TPD by 2050. (Report by the “Task Force on Waste to Energy,” under the Planning Commission).
In Punjab, a total of 710959.645 (MT) Municipal Solid Waste, 67363.427 (MT) of Hazardous waste and 6227.205 (MT) of Bio-Medical waste was generated during 2019-20 (PPCB as cited in Statistical Abstract 2020).
The composition of solid waste varies from place to place depending on factors like lifestyle and standard of living (urban/ rural habitat), journal consumer pattern, type of industry, local waste management practices, level of technology enhancement etc. The various types of waste generated from different sources are given in Table below:
Major Sources of Solid Waste
| Source of Waste | Waste Generated |
| Residential | Food waste, plastics, paper, glass, leather, cardboard, metals, yard wastes, ashes, tires, batteries, old mattresses |
| Industrial & Commercial | Packaging, ashes, chemicals, cans, plastics, metal parts ,Thin & thick plastics, food waste, metals, paper, glass wood, cardboard materials |
| Institutional | Wood, paper, metals, cardboard materials, electronics |
| Construction and Demolition | Steel materials, concrete, wood, plastics, rubber, copper wires, dirt and glass |
| Agriculture | Agricultural wastes, spoiled food, pesticide containers |
| Health Care Facilities | Syringes, bandages, used gloves, masks, catheter, urine bags, drugs, paper, plastics, food wastes, sanitary napkins and diapers, chemicals |
Solid Waste Management
Solid Waste Management is defined as the discipline associated with control of generation, storage, collection, transport or transfer, processing and disposal of solid waste materials in a way that best address the range of public health, conservation, economics, aesthetic engineering and other environmental considerations. Solid waste management includes planning, administrative, financial, engineering and legal functions in the process of solving problems arising from waste materials. The following initiatives have been taken for Solid Waste Management in India and within the state:
- Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016: For efficient & effective management of solid waste, Government of India has formulated following six types of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 for scientific solid waste management of any city or State: