ASSESSMENT OF HOUSEHOLD SOLID WASTE COMPOSITION AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN URBAN AREAS: A CASE STUDY OF AHMEDABAD

Abstract The growing global population has driven an unprecedented demand for goods, resulting in the highest levels of waste production in history. While waste management is a longstanding challenge, its complexity has intensified in recent times. Results showed to analyse the composition and management of solid waste in Ahmedabad, with the goal of understanding the local situation, identifying problems, and exploring potential solutions. Conducted in Ahmedabad municipality, the research sought to uncover the reality of household waste management. Data were collected in November 2023 through household surveys and focused group discussions involving 75 households. The study categorized and weighed the waste collected from these households, identifying even types of household solid waste (HSW). The largest portion was organic waste (44%), followed by Plastic accounts for 13%, paper 11%, glass 10%, rubber 9%, various other waste 7%, and hazardous waste 6%. Albeit metropolitan specialists are ordinarily liable for strong waste assortment and removal, the scale of the issue in Kankaria Lake, Ahmedabad surpasses their capabilities. Residents have expressed significant dissatisfaction with the local government's waste management efforts. Considering the waste composition, home-level composting offers a viable and sustainable solution. However, the ongoing strong waste administration framework is inefficient and requires substantial improvement to address the community's needs effectively.