The exponential growth of population, industrialization, and urbanization in India has accelerated to the challenges of municipal solid waste (MSW) management. Inadequate waste management has a negative impact on both environmental integrity and human health. Recycling has emerged as an essential strategy for improving these pressing concerns. This chapter thoroughly explores global waste management methodologies, concentrating on the essential role of recycling. It systematically analyses the fundamental components of MSW management, encompassing generation, waste classification, collection from the sites and disposal processes. The study explores the characteristics and composition of Indian MSW, evaluates global and national waste generation trends, and emphasizes the deficiencies in current legislative frameworks and operational practices. It also analyses the socio-economic and ecological benefits of integrated waste management (IWM) as a transformative strategy for achieving sustainable development. IWM supports environmental conservation, economic growth, and public health by promoting waste reduction, recycling and energy recovery while reducing dependency on landfill sites. Furthermore, this chapter discusses innovative methodologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), Geographic Information System (GIS), and advanced modeling techniques to enhance waste management systems and support them with sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study shows the essential role of waste characterization methods in producing value-added products from recycled items. It supports adopting a comprehensive waste management framework to support socio-economic and environmental progress. The conclusions delineated in this chapter aim to assist municipal authorities and scholars in formulating more successful approaches for effective MSW management.