Under India’s regulatory framework, urban local bodies (ULBs) are clearly assigned the responsibility for municipal solid waste (MSW) services. While waste is visible around many Indian towns, there are examples of ULBs that have greatly improved their service levels. What factors are responsible for their success?

A report from the Water and Sanitation Program, South Asia presents results from a study of waste management in three small cities in the states of West Bengal, Goa and Andhra Pradesh.

None of the programmes were driven by external pressures. They arose because key municipal decision-makers recognised the need for reform after learning about alternative strategies of MSW provision. All programmes were financed by locally generated resources. In all cases, programmes were made part of a larger message directed at the general public and politicians – involving health, child welfare, women’s empowerment and/or civic pride.

The focus of the programmes was on primary collection and transportation – increased frequency of collection, elimination of fixed community bins and coordinating transportation systems. In all three cases, attempts at segregating rubbish, composting and recycling have also been made. Organised processing of recyclables has reduced scavenging from open dumps, reducing associated health risks for ragpickers and ensuring greater security of earnings.

This is a fundamental shift in approach from basic cleaning services to integrated sustainable waste management. Citizen confidence in city administration has grown and, in some cases, has resulted in improved tax collections.

The author describes how:

• In Kanchrapara, West Bengal, a high level of participation and decentralisation through ward-level committees introduced segregation of waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Costs have been recovered and employment generated, half of it for women.
• In Panaji, the capital of Goa, reforms were part of a city-wide revitalisation programme. Community bins were replaced by trolley bins and automated truckloading systems, and incentives for recycling were introduced.
• In Suryapet, Andhra Pradesh, bins were distributed to households to enable segregation at source: yoga and meditation were among the methods used to encourage workers to relate better to the public.
• Effective management of ragpickers and lower income groups in composting and recycling activities has not only improved their economic wellbeing, but has also resulted in high rates of landfill diversion.

However, the end disposal of waste remains unaddressed, with open dumping remaining the norm. Despite significant improvements in the civic environment, desired health outcomes have not been achieved due to the absence of safe and sanitary disposal systems. Pricing decisions and contractual terms are often arbitrary and are not supported by costing or performance data.

There are still many positive lessons that can be taken from the three cities’ experiences:

• it is possible to charge low-income households for waste disposal: willingness to pay is enhanced by transparency in the way user charges are collected and spent, and clarity in roles and responsibilities
• services can significantly improve without substantially increasing staff and vehicles
• engaging the informal sector is necessary for long-term sustainability
• programme design has to be grounded in the local context: the extent to which communities can be involved will vary
• community and municipal actions must be synchronised and supported by political representatives
• state and national agencies must help with treatment and disposal systems.

Source(s):
‘Solid Waste Management Initiatives in Small Towns: Lessons and Implications’, Water and Sanitation Programme, by Vandana Bhatnagar, October 2006 (PDF) Full document.

Funded by: World Bank

id21 Research Highlight: 8 June 2007

Further Information:
Vandana Bhatnagar
Water and Sanitation Program - South Asia
World Bank
55 Lodi Estate
New Delhi, 110 003
India

Tel: +91 11 24690488
Fax: +91 11 24628250
Contact the contributor: wspsa@worldbank.org

Water and Sanitation Program - South Asia

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