Waste management was often neglected in urban policies, until waste became a major issue in the world’s urbanization. There is now an acknowledged need to control the socio-environmental impacts of waste flows, since they may generate various kinds of pollution and environmental injustice. Moreover, waste management became a strategic tool for urban marketing since it helps to strengthen the attractiveness of the “best practices”’ cities.
Scarcity of natural resources combined with recent growth in plastic and electronic waste generation led to the illusion that municipal waste has a potential high economic value, some even saying that gold is hidden within our garbage bins and landfills. Indeed, raw material can be extracted from disposed goods and waste can be burnt in order to produce energy. But these solutions require segregation and processing which are not costless. On the other hand, even the conventional waste management systems generate significant costs.
This workshop proposes to think out of the box about waste recovery. A main goal is not to lose the valuable part of garbage, by supporting reuse and recycling, but another important objective is to assess the economic, social and environmental costs of the various waste processing options.
Irène Salenson (AFD) will present the results of a research programme comparing six cities in Latin America, Africa and Asia (ORVA2D 2014-2017). Rémi de Bercegol (CNRS) will focus on the case study of Delhi and the policy of waste-to-energy. Swati Singh Sambyal (CSE) will present alternative options for waste management such as decentralized processing. A representative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will present the results of the Swachh Bharat mission and the implementation of the new Solid Waste Management Rules.
Further to the event, you are cordially invited to a cocktail in AFD’s garden:
19A Rajdoot Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021.
Kindly RSVP at afdnewdelhi@afd.fr
Reading: Informal Recycling vs municipal Waste Service in Asian cities: Opposition or Integration?
Authors: Rémi de Bercegol, Jérémie Cave, Arch Nguyen Thai Huyen
Coordinator: Irène Salenson, AFD – Research Paper n°64
This is a seminar organised by CPR (SCI-FI) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD-Delhi/AFD-Paris). It is the first event of ‘the City of Waste’, a cycle of events organized in Delhi and Kochi within the framework of Bonjour India. Find out more about ‘the City of Waste’ here.