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Study finds gaps in waste management in Delhi
A study by Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group finds widespread open burning across Delhi linked to clearing accumulated garbage, and significant gaps in decentralised waste management in zero waste colonies. The findings point to systemic issues in waste collection, segregation, and on-site processing that contribute to pollution.
Why It Matters
The findings indicate systemic waste-management gaps that fuel open burning and pollution in Delhi, highlighting targeted areas for policy and community action.
Timeline
3 Events
May 15, 2026: Findings reported on waste-management gaps and open burning
May 15, 2026
The article reports findings from two studies: open burning is a city-wide systemic norm with more than 37 percent of 1,006 incidents linked to clearing accumulated garbage, and waste accounts for over 10 percent of Delhi's pollution; over 70 percent of burning sites lacked waste collection within 500 metres. A second study assessing 68 MCD-designated zero waste colonies found 85 percent did not process wet waste on-site, 43 percent did not segregate waste, and 37 percent lacked composting infrastructure. Only 13 percent of assessed colonies processed household wet waste; Delhi has 678 zero waste colonies. The study also recommends setting up a Zero Waste to Landfill Cell, contracting NGOs to compost onsite, and incentivising Resident Welfare Associations, with independent supervision.
April 2026: End of open-burning data collection
April 2026
Data collection for the open-burning study concluded in April 2026, covering 1,006 incidents across 128 wards. Wards Malka Ganj and Said-Ul-Ajaib each recorded the highest tally with 34 incidents.
December 2025: Start of open-burning data collection
December 2025
Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group began collecting data on open burning incidents across Delhi, recording 1,006 unique incidents across 128 wards from December 2025.