A holistic approach for integrated solid waste management system of Kolkata municipality corporation area

The generation of large quantities of MSW in Kolkata has become a serious environmental issue. Urban local bodies, though committed to their services, are finding this issue difficult to manage properly due to the growing magnitude of problems. The major problems in MSW management at Kolkata are due to lack of waste segregation at source, low percentage of house-to-house collection, large number of open vats, low operational efficiency of waste transport system with old vehicles, low collection efficiency in newly added areas, and an inefficient informal recycling system. In the area of processing and disposal, many changes must be implemented including transformation of an informal to a formal recycling system; construction of a newly engineered landfill site with liner, leachate collection, and treatment facilities; enhancement of the composting system; implementation of a CH₄ recovery system; and the introduction of vermi-composting in a decentralized manner. In the future, an on-line management information system needs to be effectively implemented to optimize daily operating resource allotment and make the Kolkata solid waste management system effective and sustainable.