A Critique on Need of Private Sector Participation to Enhance Solid Waste Management Practices in India

Solid waste management (SWM) is a mandatory duty of all municipal authorities in the country. They spend a significant proportion of their total budget on it, yet service is very poorly performed, with treatment and disposal getting the least attention. Improper and non-scientific handling cause environmental degradation and health hazards to inhabitants. Lack of funds and necessary resources are cited as major constraints. The pathetic situation makes it necessary for the municipal authorities to seriously consider solutions that are outside-the-box to improve services. Privatisation is the best option to improve an efficiency of municipal solid waste management as experienced in many developing countries. This paper deals with an overview of the opportunities and challenges of the private sector participation (PSP) in solid waste management and predominantly the needs of private sector participation to enhance the solid waste management practices in India.