SWM Learning Program

in India

Reduce, Reuse and Recycling

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Module Description

SWM Learning Program

in India

Provides information about the current practices of organic

waste recycling and strategies for further improvements.
Promotes waste minimization concept for waste
management.
Show pathways leading to improved recovery, reuse and
recycling for obtaining more and better secondary raw
material for the production sector
Brings to fore the unacknowledged services being provided
by the informal waste pickers in India in conserving
national resources and discusses various ways through
which their contribution in this sector can be enhanced
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Learning Objectives

SWM Learning Program

in India

To understand the magnitude of reusable and recyclable

material in the municipal waste stream which adds burden on
the municipal authorities in managing such waste
To understand the concept of reduce, reuse and recycle which
save resources and reduces the burden on the municipal
authorities in collection, transportation and disposal of waste.

To learn the ways of promoting the objective of 3 R

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SWM Learning Program

in India

Concept of 3 Rs

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Waste Management Hierarchy

Prevention

SWM Learning Program

in India

Most Economic
Least wasted economic value
Least environmental damage

Minimisation

reuse
Reuse

recycling

Recycling

energy recovery

Energy recovery

Least Economic
Most wasted economic value
Most environmental damage

disposal
Disposal

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Concept of 3Rs

SWM Learning Program

in India

3Rs fosters cooperation among waste generators, waste

collectors processors and manufacturers. Recycling allows for
production and consumption with reduced depletion of
natural resources and energy, and can reduce the negative
impact on the environmental system (air, water and soil).
1.
2.

Waste prevention, reduction or minimisation

Reuse

4.

Recycling
Recovery

5.

Disposal

3.

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Typical Recycling Materials

Material

Advantages

Aluminium

SWM Learning Program

in India

High market value

Can be easily recycled by shredding and melting
Can be recycled indefinitely as it does not deteriorate from
reprocessing
Its recycling requires significantly less energy than producing it
from ore.
Recycling recovers valuable metals
Prevention of pollution due to heavy metals such as lead, cadmium
and mercury

Batteries

Concrete/
Demolition waste

Can be crushed to gravel and reused in road construction and

landscaping

Glass

Glass can be sorted into colors and melted.

Saves energy compared to processing raw material
Can be recycled indefinitely as it does not deteriorate from
reprocessing

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Typical Recycling Materials

SWM Learning Program

in India

Other
metal

Metal scrap has high market values (e.g. steel, copper, silver,
platinum)
Alike aluminium it can be recycled indefinitely as it does not
deteriorate from reprocessing

Paper

Can be easily recycled; however quality is deteriorating with each

recycling cycle.
Paper or cardboard from recycled paper requires less energy and
protects forests.

PET

Can be recycled if segregated from other waste.

Reprocessing into granulate is easily possible.
Has a high market value if processing plants are available.

Other
plastic

Other plastic such as Polyethylene or PVC can be recycled but have

less value on the market than PET. The value depends on recycling
and manufacturing options in the vicinity.

Electron
ic waste

Computers or mobile phones contain high value metals, therefore

they are often dismantled, reused or recycled.
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Waste generation rates

SWM Learning Program

in India

According to the Ministry of Urban Development

(Government of India), about 42 million metric tonnes of solid
waste is generated per year in urban India with per capita
waste generation rate ranging between 0.2 and 0.6 kg per day.

A significant increase in Indias urban population, which

has resulted in an enormous increase in the rate of waste
generated in the cities
Lack of serious efforts by municipal authorities.
Increasing income levels will have a multiplier effect on the
amount of waste produced in the cities.
The waste collection efficiency in an Indian city ranges
from 50 to 90%
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SWM Learning Program

in India

Physical composition of waste

Compostable

Paper

Plastic

Glass

Metal

Others

India

41.8

5.7

3.9

2.1

1.9

44.6

Name of
the city

Total
Compostable

Paper

Plastic

Glass Metal

Inert

Rubber
Rags
& leather

Bangalore

51.84

11.58

9.72

0.78

0.35

17.34

1.14

2.29

Ahmedaba
d

40.81

5.28

5.29

0.79

0.30

39.28

0.92

5.00

Nagpur

47.41

6.87

7.45

0.92

0.29

18.01

5.38

9.48

Lucknow

47.41

6.87

7.45

0.92

0.29

18.01

5.38

9.48

Indore

48.97

6.10

5.77

0.55

0.15

31.02

2.95

2.41

Bhopal

52.44

9.01

12.38

0.55

0.39

18.88

0.09

2.65

Agra

46.38

6.12

8.72

0.85

0.11

30.07

1.97

3.92

association
Source: Central Pollution Control Board,Inwith
2005

SWM Learning Program

in India

Current practices of RRR in Indian Society

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SWM Learning Program

in India

Steps in the Recycling Chain

Municipal Waste
Storage Depot

Transportatio
n

Treatment
Plant

Rejects

Households/
Shops/
Establishment

Segregation at
source

ORGANIC

Disposal site

RECYCLABLE

Waste Purchaser
Depot

Recycling
Industry

Semi whole seller /

Whole sellers depot
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Contribution of the informal sector

SWM Learning Program

in India

It is estimated that about 8 to 10 % of the waste i.e.

about 4 million MT of waste generated in the urban
areas is retrieved by the waste pickers and given away
to a recycling industry

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Contribution of the informal sector

SWM Learning Program

in India

Comprises mostly women and children from lower income

strata (and often lower caste) with relatively small
percentage of males.
No use of protective gears to generally collect paper,
plastic, metal, glass and other waste materials which have
some value.
materials are then sold to a middle man who purchases the
waste from them at a low price.
These middle men in turn store and resell the materials in
bulk to a waste dealer with a higher profit margin.
The waste dealer then again sells the material in large
quantities to the recycling or even production industry at a
even higher price.
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SWM Learning Program

in India

Income of waste pickers

National Benefit
4 million tones of recyclable material retrieved by about 0.5 million
(5lakh) gives them a minimum of Rs. 12 billion (1200Crores) each year at
the rate of Rs. 3 / Kg and reaches the industry through middlemen.

Category

Earning

Adult Waste Picker

40 - 45 Rs/day

Child Waste Picker (moving with

mother)

10 15 Rs/Day

Child Waste Picker (moving alone)

20 30 Rs/Day

Waste Picker with cycle

50 80 Rs/Day

Waste Picker with tricycle

150 200 Rs/Day

Overall average Earning

50 Rs/Day
association
Source: Recycling Responsibility by Srishti in In2002
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The old tradition of

households and
small commerce
selling
reusable/recyclable
materials such as
newspaper, plastic
bags, bottles,
clothes, tins and
glass to waste
purchasers at the
doorstep is well
known as
Kabadiwalas.

SWM Learning Program

in India

Residents generally sell

recyclable wastes to
kabadiwallahs at a predetermined price
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SWM Learning Program

in India

Problems faced & caused by Rag pickers

Harassed by the police as they suspect them for

committing thefts.
Municipal authorities harass them as they spread the
waste while retrieving the recyclable materials.
Unhygienic practices pose health threats to waste
pickers

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SWM Learning Program

in India

Problems caused by Rag pickers

Waste pickers often cause additional littering on streets

when rummaging the waste bags and bins .
They also burn waste at the dumpsites to salvage valuable
material such as wires from the tyres and some portion of
metals causing environmental pollution.
They move around the bull dozers/ the compactors at the
landfill to pick up recyclable materials and often accidents
are caused when they try to pick up waste alongside the
moving lauries bull dozers etc at the landfill
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SWM Learning Program

in India

Mandatory directions under MSW Rules to promote 3Rs

Segregation of municipal solid wastes
In order to encourage the citizens, municipal authority shall
organise awareness programmes for segregation of wastes
and shall promote recycling or reuse of segregated materials.
The municipal authority shall undertake phased programme
to ensure community participation in waste segregation. For
this purpose, regular meetings at quarterly intervals shall be
arranged by the municipal authorities with representatives of
local resident welfare associations and non-governmental
organizations.

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with
Source: Schedule II of MSW Rules 2000

SWM Learning Program

in India

Mandatory directions under MSW Rules to promote 3Rs

Municipal authorities shall adopt suitable technology or
combination of such technologies to make use of wastes
so as to minimize burden on landfill. Following criteria
shall be adopted, namely:The biodegradable wastes shall be processed by composting,
vermicomposting, anaerobic digestion or any other
appropriate biological processing for stabilization of
wastes.
Mixed waste containing recoverable resources shall follow
the route of recycling.
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Source: Schedule II of MSW Rules 2000

SWM Learning Program

in India

Recommendations for
Implementation of the mandates

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SWM Learning Program

in India

Promoting storage and segregation of waste at source

Involving the informal sector & extending financial

help to NGOs and co-operatives

Organizing them for into door step "waste collectors"

by motivating them to stop picking up soiled and
contaminated solid waste and instead collect recyclable
clean material directly from the households

The upgraded rag-pickers on becoming door step

waste-collectors may be given an identity card by the
NGOs organizing them so that they may have
acceptability in society.
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SWM Learning Program

in India

Processing of Municipal Solid Wastes:

Promote segregation at source

Till 100% source segregation is achieved the mixed
waste containing recyclable material may be
subjected to segregation at the secondary level.
If waste is of high calorific value consider WTE
options.
Special care must be taken prior to considering
WTE technologies for treatment of MSW waste.

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SWM Learning Program

in India

Promote Composting of Waste

Composting reduces (separated) biodegradable

waste to 25-30 % of its initial weight. By adopting
composting technology for treatment of MSW,
municipal authorities will save up to 55% of waste
going to landfill.

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Role of Industrial Sector & EPR

SWM Learning Program

in India

The central and state governments may consider

introducing the concept of Extended Producers
Responsibility (EPR).
Industry needs to realize the problems their
packaging material creates once they are
discarded by the purchaser of their products.
Ideally, industries should show self commitment
(e.g. in form of a sector agreement) to reduce
waste from packaging and reuse or recycle
production waste as much as possible.
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Extended Producer Responsibility

SWM Learning Program

in India

1. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) provides an

overall framework to link formal systems of production to
the existing informal system of recycling through a product
life cycle approach where the producer is responsible.
2. It provides an opportunity to resolve several inter-related
waste management problems.
3. EPR can act as a pressure tool for making big corporate
houses, which generate large quantities of waste, to invest
in recycling and take back their product waste.
Discouragement and higher taxes on packaging materials,
which are non-recyclable, can help reduce the problem of
waste.
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Governments Role

SWM Learning Program

in India

Encourage technology advancements for waste recycling

Help create logistic chains and market for recyclable
products.
Examine the issue of recycling within the framework of
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Promote the use of re-usable or eco-friendly packaging
material.
Direct the industries to reduce the packaging material and
its composition.
Levy eco-surcharge on hard-to-recycle or ecologically
unfriendly packaging to encourage compliance.
Help in marketing of compost through extension methods to
the agricultural sector.
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SWM Learning Program

in India

Need of intervention by Municipal Authorities

Promote segregation of waste at source of generation.

Collection of recyclable waste from the door step
Involve citizens and citizens organistions/ NGOs in SWM
planning
Integrate the informal sector in the formal SWM system by
organizing waste picker cooperatives through NGOs for door
to door collection
providing work places for sorting and sheds for storing
recyclables
providing marketing chains and direct links to industries for
recyclables
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NGO Intervention

SWM Learning Program

in India

Undertake phased programmes to encourage citizens

in segregating waste at source.
Organize rag pickers for door to door collection in
urban areas for collection of organic and recyclable
waste separately.
Eliminate the middlemen in this sector, through
forming cooperatives of rag pickers
Provide access to health clinics, livelihood skills and
saving schemes.
Promoting conversion of waste materials (paper and
plastics) into useful products.
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Case Study

SWM Learning Program

in India

Centre for Environment Education, Bangalore

Centre for Environment Education

(CEE) setup a hand made paper making
unit and a plastic weaving loom in
Coorg.

The waste polythene bags are collected

from schools through the eco-clubs,
houses, through waste retrievers and Self
help Groups
These polythene bags are washed, dried,
cut into strips and woven in handlooms
to make attractive bags, mats, folders,
pencil cases, wall charts, curtains for
windows and doors etc.
These products are sold at various
exhibitions and fairs.

Polybag weaving
unit at the Coorg
facility

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SWM Learning Program

in India

Community Participation

Keep two domestic bins at home. One for biodegradable

food waste and another for recyclable material.

Not to litter on the streets and handover the waste kept

separately to the waste collector on a day today basis.

May compost their kitchen waste, leaves, grass clippings

and garden plants within their premises if there is space
available

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Community project

SWM Learning Program

in India

Muskan Jyoti Samiti, Lucknow

Work with 150 households

Services offered are collection of waste from door-to door and sweeping of
roads, twice a week. The project took two years to reach a financial stable
position.
The District Authorities allocated 65 acres of land, free of cost, for vermicomposting and monetary assistance for preparation of compost beds and
pits and also for procuring cycle rickshaws.
Currently the project serves the upper, middle and lower income colonies
. It charges different user fee in different colonies, which vary between Rs
15-30 per household per month.
900 waste pickers are Employed.
Waste pickers are not paid any salary however they have a right over the
recyclables and on an average, every waste collector gets between Rs
1200-Rs 1500 per month by selling the recyclables.
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International Examples

SWM Learning Program

in India

Germanys recycling policy and its green dot system

Residual household waste: The annual or monthly waste fee varies

depending on bin volume (e.g. 40l, 80l, 120l, 240l, 660l, and 1100l)
and frequency of pick-up. People either choose the frequency in
advance or is billed according to the number of times they
presented their bin at the kerbside for emptying.

This represents a unit-based price system even though the

calculation base is quite crude, since the volume of the bin is
measured and not the content of waste which can vary within the
bin.
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International Examples

SWM Learning Program

in India

Germanys recycling policy and its green dot system

Organic waste: The fee varies according to bin volume chosen or is

included in the residual waste fee.

Paper and cardboard: Costs are covered by the residual waste fee or
base fee and to a certain percentage by the Green Dot Programme
(see below).

Pick-up and recycling of light packaging materials and glass is

financed by the Green Dot Program.
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Recycling in Switzerland

Waste management is financed through different tariffs:

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a unit-based pricing system charging for each bag

a unit-based pricing system charging for each bag in combination with a flat fee, or
a weight-based system in combination with the bag-based system.

The recycling system is financed through:

an advanced recycling contribution which is a voluntary contribution on
every recyclable unit made by the producers to organizations that organize
the collection and recycling (applied for PET-bottles, aluminium cans and
packaging, steel and tin cans),
an advanced disposal fee which the producer has to pay by law on glass
packaging and batteries and which is included in the retail price,
taxes or flat fee component of a two-tiers unit-based pricing system (applied
for metals, paper and cardboard), or
Revenues from sales of recyclable materials (applied for textiles).

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SWM Learning Program

in India

Recycling status in EU
Material

Year

Consumptio
n
/Per capita
/year

Waste
generation
consumptio
n

Recycling Recovery Main

rate
sectors
Rate

Plastic

2002

95

56 %

15%

38%

Household

Paper &
2002
Cardboard

205

96%

56 %

56%

Aluminiu
m

2002

22

84%(1)

84%

Transport,
building
packaging

Steel

2003

412 (2)

55 % (3)

55%

Glass

2002

38

83 % (4)

59 %

59%

Packaging

Rubber (5)

2003

47%

73%

Transport

Inert
Waste

Building

Textile
Waste

Household
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SWM Learning Program

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Other Examples

Recycling of waste electrical and electronic

equipment (WEEE) in Delhi.
Privately-initiated resource recovery and recycling
program in the Philippines.
Composting in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
A new solid-waste management and recycling
concept for Bais City, Philippines

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