Renewable municipal waste energy capacity in India 2009-2021

The renewable municipal waste capacity in the south Asian country of India was approximately 217 megawatts in 2021, up from a total of 188 megawatts in 2020. The country saw a linear increase in the municipal waste capacity over the years.

The growing populace conundrum

India is home to one of the largest populations in the world. Even though India generates one of the lowest per capita waste, ineffective management, and recycling measures have led to a higher risk of disaster and environmental pollution. Consequently, the nation accounts for a large portion of the municipal solid waste generated, which is only projected to grow at an unprecedented rate if no immediate measures are taken. The government initiatives like "Swachh Bharat Mission" proposed an improvement in the recycling infrastructure and the immediate control of the practice of open dumping of waste. As of December 2019, about 26 waste to electricity plants were functional across India.

Practice of open dumping

The practice of open dumping of waste is a common phenomenon in low-income countries of South-Asia. A large section of the demographic does not practice segregation of waste at the source, a significant prerequisite for efficient waste management and recycling. Even though recent years have improved door-to-door waste collection, the sheer volume of open dumping across the nation hinders effective waste management.