Indian cities are grappling with a growing waste management crisis. Towering landfills, such as Ghazipur, Deonar and others, some of the largest in the world, are not only environmentally hazardous but also significant contributors to climate change. Landfills are major sources of methane, a greenhouse gas at least twenty-eight times as potent than carbon dioxide. Managing urban waste effectively is critical, not just for climate mitigation, but also for building cleaner, healthier, and more resilient cities capable of supporting the rapidly growing populations. Addressing this challenge requires solutions tailored to local contexts. Cities differ in waste composition, landfill characteristics, collection systems, and governance structures. EPIC India’s mission is to deliver this data-driven evidence and policy-actionable solutions that can be scaled across the country. Delhi, given its critical importance and urgency, will be the starting point for developing these insights, with a special focus on Ghazipur Landfill.

Research Focus and Approach

The research will target two critical nodes of the waste management chain: collection and disposal systems. The first part will focus on waste collection by the waste workers and their operations. Improving segregation at this point is crucial to reducing the waste burden on the landfills and enabling the use of cleaner disposal technologies. The second part of the study will assess pathways for these disposal technologies to manage both legacy and future waste, preventing re-accumulation.

EPIC India, in collaboration with TERI and partners from GMH, SRON, and others, will adopt a multi-pronged approach. At the collection stage, EPIC India will use economic tools to study waste workers incentives, operational inefficiencies, and potential interventions. Special emphasis will be placed on enabling the segregation of wet waste, a complex and currently under-managed waste stream, to unlock opportunities for composting and energy generation, both crucial for methane mitigation. At the disposal stage, EPIC India, along with its partners will conduct a detailed technical assessment of landfill clearing strategies alongside a complete cost-benefit analysis. This will consider not just direct financial costs but also hidden environmental and social costs. The outcome will be a set of policy scenarios outlining costs, benefits, trade-offs, and key enabling conditions.

Expected Outcomes

The study will map two vital links in Delhi’s waste management chain, providing actionable insights to inform urban waste policy and operations. The evidence generated will also contribute to academic papers, policy reports, and adaptable frameworks for scaling solutions to other Indian cities. By improving both collection and disposal practices, the project aims to drive methane emission reductions, foster healthier urban living, and contribute meaningfully to India’s broader climate and development goals.