Transforming a Waste-Ridden Urban India:
Urban waste management has gained renewed global focus after COP30 (Belém, 2025) placed waste and circularity at the core of climate action, committing funds to cut methane emissions through initiatives like No Organic Waste (NOW).It refers to India’s shift from a linear “collect–dump” model of urban waste management to a circular economy framework, where waste is minimised, segregated, recycled, and reused as a resource to reduce pollution, emissions, and health risks in rapidly expanding cities.Urban India is projected to generate 165 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually by 2030, reflecting rapid urbanisation.By 2050, waste generation could rise to 436 million tonnes as the urban population approaches 814 million.Urban waste is estimated to emit over 41 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, mainly methane from organic waste.Cities generate about 12 million tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste annually, a major contributor to urban pollution.
