Perspectives of Municipal Solid Management In

India: A Case Study Of Chandigarh

Vikas Garg, Jyoti Rani

AbstractFor the sustainable development of any nation proper

management of solid waste is very essential. Nature has been offering
its resources and also serving as a receptable for absorbing wastes for
too long time. Realization must come to us that nature today is
fragile. Significant factors responsible for environmental problems
are pollution, over population, threats of diseases, global climate
change, solid waste generation and so on. This has, therefore,
revealed the need for developing innovative solution to these
problems and one of them is Management of Municipal Solid
Wastes. A step towards this has been taken and is presented in this
paper. It includes the step by step process and methods used to
manage the municipal solid waste of India and as a step towards it a
case study of Chandigarh has been studied. The study includes seven
parameters of waste management beginning from the source, its
collection methods, transportation, segregation, reuse, recycling and
the final disposal.

Keywords Management, Chandigarh, Municipal Solid Waste.

I. INTRODUCTION

ASTE is the outcome of human activity. Waste, in

general, is a derogatory term which implies something
unwanted, useless, pejorative or filthy. Yet, in developing
societies such as India, though creating problems of disposal,
waste denotes also a bountiful treasure for millions of people.
Waste signifies a major means of survival for a great number
of underprivileged human beings and secures the livelihoods
of a sizeable part of the urban population. Solid Waste
Management in India traditionally has been a neglected area of
urban development and often accounted for severe urban
health problems in the past. This has resulted in governments
at the central, state and city levels, non- governmental
organizations and individuals paying much more attention to
the continuously annoying problem of garbage, initiating
various waste management projects and special cleaning drives
as well as drafting new policies, but unfortunately all these
efforts soon petered out due to the common public apathy
towards filth and garbage. As a result of the currently
experienced rapid economic development and the immense
industrial growth, Indian cities are nowadays confronted with
an unprecedented amount of waste and the consequential
difficulties relating to waste collection and disposal.
Vikas Garg is Professor & Head with Civil Engineering Department,
MMEC Mullana, Ambala ,Haryana, India: (e-mail:gargvikas27@gmail.com)
Jyoti Rani is Lecturer with Civil Engineering Department, MMEC
Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India: (e-mail: jyoti3571@gmail.com)

Chandigarh derives its name from the temple of Goddess

Chandi (the goddess of power) located in the area and a fort
or garh lying beyond the temple. Chandigarh is only planned
city in Indian with a population of 9.01 lakh in the year 2001.
It is one of the fastest growing city with a population decadal
growth rate of 40.30%. The area of Union Territory of
Chandigarh is 114sq.km. only with 22 villages falling in the
jurisdiction of Union Territory. Since, the formation of Union
Territory in the year 1966, all the functions such as water
supply, sewerage, storm water drainage, city roads, solid waste
management and fire wing etc. are look after by respective
departments of Chandigarh Administration. With the formation
of Municipal Corporation in the year 1994 (with 20 wards)
with its jurisdictional area of 79.34sq.kms; the functions of
solid waste management were transferred to Municipal
Corporation, Chandigarh.
II. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
The term municipal solid waste is generally used to describe
most of the non hazardous solid waste from city, town or
village that requires routine or a periodic collection and
transport to a processing or disposal site. Municipal solid
waste comprises two types of materials: refuse and trash.
Refuse includes garbage and rubbish. Garbage contains putrid
or highly decomposable food waste. Rubbish contains mostly
dry, non putrescent material such as glass, rubber, metal cans
and slowly decomposable or combustible material such as
paper, textiles or wooden objects. Trash includes bulky waste
material that generally requires special handling and is
therefore collected on a routine basis. An old torch, mattress,
television or refrigerator and even a large uprooted tree stump
are the examples of trash items.
III. WASTE GENERATION CHARACTERISTICS
The physical composition of the waste is obtained as a
percentage of the different constituents as given below. The
paper content generally varies between 1.0 and 6.0% and
increases with the increase in population (Boyar et al, 1996).
The quantity of waste paper in India, is much less, as even the
quantity thrown away is picked up by people for its use as a

TABLE I
CHARACTERISTICS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE GENERATED BY METRO
CITIES (CPCB, 2010)

S.
N
o
1

Paper

Textil
e

Leath
er

Plastic
s

Metal
s

Glas
s

6.0

1.0

3.0

Compo
stable
matter
40.0

Name of
metro
city
Ahmedaba
d
Bangalore

8.0

5.0

6.0

3.0

1.0

45.0

Mumbai

10.0

3.6

0.2

2.0

0.2

40.0

Calcutta

10.0

3.0

1.0

8.0

3.0

40.0

Chandigar
h
Delhi

4.0

2.0

6.5

4.0

30.0

6.6

4.0

0.6

1.5

2.5

1.2

31.7

7.0

1.7

1.3

40.0

Hyderaba
d
Madras

10.0

5.0

5.0

3.0

44.0

Pune

5.0

5.0

10.0

55.0

10

Vadodara

4.0

7.0

48.0

11

Visakhapa
tnam

3.0

2.0

5.0

5.0

35.0

6
7

fuel and also for packaging of materials / food sold by road

side hawkers. The plastics, rubber and leather contents are
lower than the paper content, and do not exceed 1% except in
metropolitan cities. The metal content is also low, (less than
1%). These low values are essentially due to the large scale
recycling of these constituents .Paper is recycled on a priority
basis while plastics and glass are recycled to a lesser extent.
A. Waste collection and storage
Waste Collection and Storage are inter related functional
elements of Solid waste system. Storage is a component of
Waste Collection. Every city has its own waste collection
system and Chandigarh is no exception to this. In Chandigarh
earlier bins were placed at different places in the same sector.
The purpose of placing these bins was to ensure that the
residents put the waste in these bins thus creating a cleaner
environment. But the results seen were different from what
was expected. The residents used to through the waste outside
or near the bins instead of the putting it inside the bin. As a
result, unsanitary conditions were created in the sectors. To
cater this problem an experiment was done by the Municipal
cooperation of Chandigarh that was called Bin Free
Collection.For the purpose of collection removal and storage
of Municipal Solid waste, the Corporation allotted about 1/5 of
the city area to private entrepreneurs for providing sanitation
services. It has also engaged 373 Nos. of safaiwalas through
outsourcing. In this experiment instead of placing lots of
dustbins in the same sector, one or two places were earmarked
where bins were placed. The residents of the area were asked
to arrange the disposal of their house hold waste at the Sehaj
Safai Kendras by engaging cycle carts for House to-House
garbage collection on cost recovery basis. Another option was
that dustbins of Sehaj Safai Kendra were placed in the sector
itself where the door-to-door collectors dumped the waste after
segregation. They place different sized containers. The sizes
are 6.5cubic m for general container and 4.5 cubic m for
horticulture waste and kitchen waste.
The experiment gave positive results. Later this experiment
was transformed into a project when the representatives of
Central Pollution Control Board came for a visit to
Chandigarh. They analyzed the results of this experiment and

approved the proposal. A detail project report followed by

Pilot Project was prepared. Finally the project got sanctioned
and the Municipal Cooperation got Rs. 3.14 crores for this
project. The corporation is getting very encouraging response
of this scheme and the same is being extended in phased
manner. So far the Corporation has extended this scheme in 29
Sectors.
B. Waste transportation
Removal of garbage is a very important aspect of SWM and
the method of transportation is crucial. Transportation implies
conveyance from point of collection to the point of final
disposal either directly or through a transfer system. In
Chandigarh, from the Sehaj Safai Kendra the waste is
transported to the Dumping site by High speed Vehicles. They
are Called Dumper Placers. These vehicles are provided with
shutters so that the waste does not fall off while transporting.
The Vehicles keep on moving from 8 am till 4 pm and collect
the filled up bins from the sectors and placing vacant bins
instead.
C. Waste recovery and recycling
Waste recovery & recycling is an important functional
element of SWM system. It is because they are lessen the
reliance on landfills and incinerators, protects human health
and the environment and conserves natural resources by
reducing the demand for raw materials. Unfortunately in
Chandigarh there is no major recycling unit that is working
towards recycling the leftovers from the municipal waste.
There were even plans of banning the recycling units present
in Chandigarh. However the Municipal Cooperation later
withdrew this. Thus, presently nothing is done for the recovery
& recycling of the waste in Chandigarh.
D.Waste processing
The processing of wastes help in achieving the best possible
benefit from every functional element of the SWM system. In
Chandigarh an effort is being made for the processing of the
waste. In a public-private partnership venture between the
Municipal Corporation of UT Chandigarh, and the Jaypee
Group of New Delhi, a major municipal solid waste processing
plant, named as Jaypee's Municipal Solid Waste Processing
Plant, is being set up in the city's outskirt at a cost of Rs.23
crore. The foundation stone of this plant was laid on 22-022006. The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has granted
possession of 10 acres of land in Dadu Majra for installation of
the plant. The city produces 350 metric tonnes of garbage
daily, while the proposed project would have capacity to
process approx. 600 tonnes of garbage on daily basis. The
state-of-the-art European technology customized to Indian
MSW (of high moisture content and varying calorific value)
involves conversion of waste (mainly horticulture) into densely
packed fluff/pallets free from any harmful by-products and
effluents.
E. Waste disposal
Disposal is the final element in the SWM system i.e. it is the

ultimate fate of all solid waste. In Chandigarh, as far as

disposal is considered, the waste is dumped into a 22 years old
dumping site located in Dadu Majra. It is a 45-acre open nonengineered disposal site where no prior efforts have been done
to ensure that environmental protection. The 3 basic Steps
followed for the Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste in
Chandigarh are dumping, spraying of EM Solution and
leveling.
1. Dumping
Dumping is the primary step of Waste Disposal. Everyday
around 280-285 vehicles full of Municipal wastes are brought
to this site for dumping. The vehicles that come for dumping
includes big vehicles having a capacity of 5 tonnes, dumpers
with a capacity of 3 tonnes ,trolley carrying horticulture waste
with a capacity of 1 tonnes.
2. EM Solution
The Corporation has started the treatment of city garbage at
the dumping ground with Effective Micro Organism Solution
(E.M Solution) with effect from March 2005.The Main
Constituents of this Solution are actinomycetes (Photo
Synthetic Bacteria) and Yeast. A 1000L spraying solution
contains 20L EM solution with 30L Molasses and the rest 950
L is water. It takes 3-4 days for the preparation of the
Solution. The said treatment is helpful in the acceleration of
decomposition process of the garbage, reduction in the volume
of gas discharge with the result that foul smell has substantially
minimized, minimization of larva of flies & mosquitoes,
reduction in suspended dust particles, reduction in the volume
of waste and fermentation period.
3. Leveling
For the leveling Heavy Chain Dozer compactor vehicles are
used which compress the waste, followed by which oil and
grease is sprayed on the land. The waste is then covered with a
layer of Construction and Demolition Waste which is about 2
feet thick as per MSW Rules,2000. At present about 15-20 feet
deep disposal site is piled with Municipal Waste.
IV. THE CURRENT PRACTICE
With the Implication of Municipal Solid Wastes
(Management & Handling) Rules, 2000, the Municipal
Corporation of Chandigarh has initiated the work of
converting the open dumping site into a Sanitary landfill with
the specifications as prescribed in Schedule III of the rules.
For this, they have capped around 30 acres of the dumping
site. After capping, the Landfill will be laid with appropriate
liner and leachate collection pipes. Apart from this a leachate
treatment plant as well as gas extraction plant and monitoring
wells will also be placed in the site. The construction of the
landfill would be complete and thereafter the waste would be
dumped in this landfill after the processing plant has done
processing.
S. No
1.
2.

TABLE II
GEO SYNTHETIC LINERS SPECIFICATIONS
Specification
Dimensions
TS65
PP Nonwoven geo-textile
Area
500 sq.m.

3.
4.
5.
6.

Gross weight
Width
Length
Manufactured By

149 kg
4m
125 m
Tencate geo4synthetics Asia

7.

Quality Assured By

ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab

A. Demonstration Project
The Central Population Control Board has allotted one
demonstration project to the city Corporation of Chandigarh
for the management of Municipal Solid Waste and to project
the implementation of Municipal Solid Waste (Management &
Handling) Rules, 2000. The Project covers works relating to
road sweeping, its collection, storage and disposal as per
norms. The Municipal Corporation has purchased one
mechanical road sweeper, garbage containers of and closing of
the reclaimed area at the landfill site and development of a
new sanitary landfill site. The total cost of the project is
Rs.12.70 Crores.
B. Disposal of Domestic Hazardous Waste
At present the hazardous household waste like old batteries
and empty containers of chemicals etc. are disposed off at the
existing landfill site along with the other Municipal
Corporation Solid Waste. This practice of disposal of
Hazardous Household waste is contrary to the provisions of
the Rules. With a view to make such arrangements as per rules
the Municipal Corporation has decided to set apart an area of
about half acre land at the extreme south end of the existing
land fill site for developing the requisite facilities for the
disposal of such waste. The consultant of the Corporation has
made and estimates of Rs.2.00 Crore for the development of
such facilities.
C. Disposal of Slaughter House Waste
The city Corporation is according top priority for the
collection and transportation of waste form Slaughter House,
Meat Market and Fish Market etc. due to its peculiar nature.
At present the waste from these places are dumped along with
other Municipal solid Waste. The waste from the Vegetable
Market is transported to the Dumping ground by city Market
committee. With a view to arrange scientific disposal of
slaughter house waste, it is proposed that a Bio-gas plant of
3000 Kg. capacity may be installed at the total cost of about
Rs.45.00 lacs. The Corporation has arranged the cost estimates
for the installation of the Bio-gas Plant prepared from M/s
Mailhem Engineers Pvt. Pune.
V. CONCLUSION
Waste management should not merely revolve around
collection, transportation and disposal of waste once it is
generated and even segregated. In fact the need of the hour is
sustainable waste management reducing the waste and
controlling the products that create undesirable waste. In India
the product goes to the user and the user generates the waste, is
the model. The municipality collects and landfills it, recycles

or burns it, thus destroying the precious natural resource. In

EPR, the implication shifts from government and user back to
producer meaning it is not what governments and user must do
but what manufacturing companies should do. The
implications are that EPR encourages pollution prevention;
reduces resource and energy in product lifecycle and changes
product designs and processes. So recycling is not the right
solution without framework of EPR. Recycling is apt only
when the product system combines with the waste system and
yet, right now we want Zero Waste somehow. As a academic,
awareness is our responsibility to make people aware about
societys problems. It is essential to keep the streets and public
places clean at all times of the day. This is possible only if
there is a proper Solid Waste Management system within the
municipal corporation of the city and waste disposal is done in
proper manner without destroying our precious natural
resources. Thus, to make this a success, it is essential that the
waste producers should cooperate and effectively participate in
the waste management efforts of the city corporation. If people
keep on throwing waste onto the streets indiscriminately, the
city corporation cannot keep the city clean, in spite of the best
efforts of the Solid Waste Management system in the city.
People therefore have to form a habit of storing the waste at its
source in their personal bins and discharge the waste into the
municipal system only at specified times.

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