Assessing municipal solid waste in Indian smart cities: A path towards Waste-to-Energy

Abstract

Urbanization, industrialization, unplanned urban expansion, and rural migration have significantly disrupted waste generation dynamics and characteristics, reducing the efficiency of municipal solid waste (MSW) management frameworks. Moreover, it has posed a substantial challenge to India's smart city initiative, which aims to develop sustainable cities. Additionally, the increasing energy demands in urban centers, driven by lifestyle habits, have exacerbated the depletion of non-renewable energy sources, highlighting the imperative need for cleaner energy sources and a thorough assessment of their adoption potential. This study comprehensively examines the current status of the functional elements of MSW, including its financial and administrative structures. It also maps its current waste management practices in the demographic space of 10 Indian smart cities. The study collected resources from secondary literatures, government and local authorities databases, and reports from key stakeholders. The paper provides recommendations and insights on the feasibility, challenges, and potential of adopting waste-to-energy (WtE) systems in the Indian context. The findings of this paper serve as a foundation for further optimization studies of MSW from a WtE perspective, aiding local authorities in identifying feasible pathways for integrating WtE technologies. This review offers a benchmark for municipalities to facilitate a smoother transition towards cleaner and energy-secured smart cities. © 2025 The Authors