Characterization of municipal solid waste generation and seasonal classification for various socio-demographic groups in Guwahati city

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is a pressing environmental issue in rapidly urbanizing cities, including Guwahati, India. Finding sustainable solutions to handle the increasing waste generation while minimizing environmental impact is challenging. This article focuses on Guwahati as a model city and presents a survey-based quantification of municipal solid waste, considering seasonal variations and socio-demographic groups. The study utilizes statistical analysis to identify dominant waste constituents and their correlation with population, household characteristics, and income levels. The results depict that across all socioeconomic categories, an average of 0.201 kg of waste is generated per person daily. In addition, it is observed that higher income levels are associated with increased solid waste generation. For sub-areas A1 (middle income), A2 (high income), and A3 (low income), the respective per capita waste generation rates are 0.18 kg/capita/day, 0.23 kg/capita/day, and 0.17 kg/capita/day. These findings provide crucial insights for developing a sustainable solid waste management plan in Guwahati, aiding policymakers and waste management authorities in designing tailored strategies for waste collection, treatment, reuse, and disposal. By implementing targeted measures such as waste reduction campaigns and promoting recycling, the city can work towards effective waste management and sustainable development.