India, Feb. 25 -- Despite a decade of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and policy reforms, waste management in India remains a challenge.

A 2022 report by the Central Pollution Control Board revealed that urban India generates around 63.17 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of municipal solid waste (MSW) and treats 33.40 MTPA. Meanwhile, the SBM claims that India currently generates 57.89 MTPA of MSW and treats 44.94 MTPA. This discrepancy highlights one of the biggest challenges in India's waste management sector from a policy development or private sector investment perspective - the lack of reliable data.

Waste generation rates and composition fluctuate with seasons and lifestyle changes. However, most cities lack data on variations in wast...