Comparative Analysis of Solid Waste Management Processes in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab

The study compiles the overview of existing municipal solid waste management processes in Himachal Pradesh. The physical characterization of municipal solid waste has also been assessed to provide the baseline data for the municipalities of respective regions to achieve the purposive waste management goals. It is mandatory for the municipal authorities to quantify and characterize the municipal solid waste in order to successful management of solid waste. The paper discusses the assessment of existing municipal solid waste processes of two municipal corporation regions of Himachal Pradesh and the comparative analysis of waste assessment with Jalandhar region of Punjab, India using Matrix method. The paper also conducted the ‘wasteaware’ benchmark indicators for the evaluation of solid waste management processes in Himachal Pradesh. The study of physical characterization revealed that the waste of Himachal Pradesh is rich in organic waste 62.01% (Shimla), 55.12% (Dharamshala) being followed by paper waste however the municipal solid waste of Jalandhar are also having maximum amount of organic waste but the second highest fraction is of plastic waste. The ‘waste aware’ benchmark indicators study revealed that Himachal Pradesh has better waste management practices than Jalandhar, Punjab.