Gujarat Climate Dashboard: Data Insights & Gaps in the  Waste Sector

Introduction

The waste sector plays a crucial role in greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, especially in rapidly urbanizing and industrializing states like Gujarat. However, a fundamental challenge persists—there is no comprehensive data available to estimate emissions from this sector. Unlike other sectors where at least partial datasets exist, the waste sector lacks systematic data collection, making it nearly impossible to assess its contribution to emissions accurately. Without reliable data, policymakers are left without a clear understanding of the sector’s emissions, making it difficult to design effective waste management strategies or measure progress toward emission reduction goals.

To address this issue, it is essential to establish a structured approach to data collection. This article explores how Gujarat can build a robust emissions inventory by identifying key data requirements and outlining steps that relevant government bodies can take to bridge these gaps.

Data Landscape

To calculate emissions from the waste sector, the IPCC methodology requires a comprehensive set of activity data, categorized into four primary sub-sectors:

Solid Waste Disposal

• Total municipal solid waste (MSW) generated.

• Waste composition (percentage of organic, plastic, metal, paper, and other components).

• Fractions of MSW disposed of in landfills, open dumps, or other systems.

• Specific details of landfill sites (e.g., age, depth, methane recovery systems).

Biological Treatment of Solid Waste

• Total annual amount treated by biological treatment facilities such as composting or anaerobic digestion.

• The waste category should include information on the origin of the waste (MSW, Industrial, Sludge, or Other) and type of waste (Food Waste or Garden and Park Waste).

• Information on whether the waste treated is reported as wet or dry weight.

Incineration and Open Burning of Waste

• Total amount of waste incinerated and open burned (Wet Weight).

• Types of waste incinerated (MSW, industrial solid waste, hazardous waste, clinical waste, sewage sludge).

• Details of waste composition (Plastics, Textiles, Rubber, Nappies).

• Total amount of waste open burned (Fraction of Population Open Burning Waste).

• Per capita waste generation.

• The total amount of MSW open burned in the state.

• Total amount of fossil liquid waste incinerated (Weight) (Lubricants, Solvents, Waste Oil).

Wastewater Treatment and Discharge

• Domestic and industrial wastewater treatment and discharge.

Bridging Data Gaps

Upon closer research, several data gaps emerged as per the IPCC guidelines and methodology required to estimate emissions from the waste sector:

• Insufficient studies on waste composition across urban and rural areas.

• Unavailability of data on waste generation and treatment practices in domestic and commercial sectors.

• Lack of information on open dumping and burning of waste in urban and rural areas.

• Incomplete information on wastewater management and treatment facilities.

• Lack of clarity on small-scale and decentralized wastewater treatment systems.

• Limited information on landfill gas recovery and incinerator efficiency.

To establish an emissions inventory for the waste sector, Gujarat needs a structured data collection framework. This involves defining key activity data requirements and ensuring periodic reporting by relevant authorities. Below are key steps to bridge the data gap:

• Develop a standardized waste data reporting system
  Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Municipal Corporations can play a key role in establishing a consistent reporting mechanism for municipal solid waste (MSW) generation, composition, and disposal methods. Recording this data at the city and district levels and updating it periodically would help reflect changing waste patterns.

• Strengthen monitoring of industrial and hazardous waste
  The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) can oversee systematic data collection on industrial waste, hazardous waste, and sewage sludge. Implementing a centralized digital reporting system would help track waste treatment and disposal more effectively.

• Improve wastewater treatment data collection
  The Water Resources Department, in collaboration with municipal authorities, needs to maintain detailed records of domestic and industrial wastewater volumes, treatment processes, and discharge methods. This would provide a clearer picture of wastewater-related emissions and help identify opportunities for improved treatment infrastructure.

• Track open burning and landfill emissions
  The State Department of Environment and Forests could support periodic studies on waste burning and landfill methane emissions. Leveraging satellite data and on-ground surveys may provide better insights into the extent of open dumping and burning, leading to more effective policy interventions.

• Centralize waste data into a unified repository
  A Centralized Statistical Organization (CSO) can help compile and manage waste-related data across all sectors. Ensuring consistency in data collection and improving accessibility would support evidence-based policymaking.

By implementing these measures, Gujarat can lay the foundation for a comprehensive waste sector inventory, ensuring that data-driven strategies guide its emission reduction efforts.

Conclusion 

A comprehensive and well-structured data collection framework is essential for integrating the waste sector into Gujarat’s emissions inventory. The current lack of reliable data limits the state’s ability to assess sectoral emissions, evaluate policy effectiveness, and develop targeted mitigation strategies. Addressing this gap requires a coordinated effort among government agencies to establish standardized reporting mechanisms, improve data accessibility, and ensure consistency in monitoring waste generation, treatment, and disposal.

Strengthening data infrastructure will not only enhance emissions tracking but also support evidence-based decision-making for sustainable waste management. By prioritizing these efforts, Gujarat can build a more resilient waste sector, align with national climate commitments, and contribute meaningfully to long-term emission reduction goals.