Urban waste disposal is a serious problem in India.
(i) In metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, etc., about 90 per cent of the solid waste is collected and disposed.
(ii) In most of other cities and towns in the country, about 30 to 50 per cent of the waste generated are left uncollected which accumulate on streets, in open spaces between houses and in wastelands leading to serious health hazards.
(iii) These wastes should be treated as resource and utilized for generating energy and compost. Untreated wastes ferment slowly and release toxic biogas to the atmosphere, including methane.
