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The bourgeoning population presents a significant concern towards environment, especially in the Indian Himalayas, an ecologically sensitive region, where waste management is imperative. The Himalayan region offers vital ecosystem services such as food, energy, water, and varied resources that are crucial for the sustenance of approximately 50 million people living in the area. Straddling from the Indus River to the Brahmaputra, the Indian Himalayas encompass an area of 533,604 km2, and encompassing thirteen Indian states. Waste management in highland locations poses issues because of its growing urbanization, topography, and extreme climatic conditions, which are more demanding than those in flat regions. While the region does not have a large local population, the increasing number of tourists visiting the area significantly contributes to the accumulation of solid waste. In the year 2019, a total of 1.905 metric tons per year of solid waste was generated, out of which 1.688 metric tons per year waste was collected, 0.413 metric tons per year is treated and only 0.263 metric tons per year waste is landfilled. Vermicomposting, composting, and biogas production are poor methods of handling biodegradable waste due to the region’s harsh cold weather. In response to the growing problem of waste management, special legislation for the Indian Himalayan area were amended in 2016. These laws set out certain requirements for developing solid waste treatment facilities and promote the use of waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies. Conversion of waste into resources requires various techniques like composting, trash recycling, refuse-derived fuel (RDF), anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas recovery. Hence, adoptive measures like enforcing ‘polluter pay’ regulations and implementing a ‘prohibition on disposable plastic’ have the potential to significantly contribute to the development of proper waste management. Accordingly, an efficient infrastructure is essential to promote a sustainable development in the regions of Indian Himalayas. In this context, this chapter examines the present state of knowledge about waste management strategies among indigenous populations, as well as the issues that arise in the Himalayan area.

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Waste Management Challenges and Potential Solutions in the Indian Himalayan Region

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Naman Sharma,
  • Sengottaiyan Priyatharshini,
  • Nagajothilakshmi Kaliappan,
  • Ramesh Poornima,
  • Ambikapathi Ramya,
  • Periyasamy Dhevagi

摘要

The bourgeoning population presents a significant concern towards environment, especially in the Indian Himalayas, an ecologically sensitive region, where waste management is imperative. The Himalayan region offers vital ecosystem services such as food, energy, water, and varied resources that are crucial for the sustenance of approximately 50 million people living in the area. Straddling from the Indus River to the Brahmaputra, the Indian Himalayas encompass an area of 533,604 km2, and encompassing thirteen Indian states. Waste management in highland locations poses issues because of its growing urbanization, topography, and extreme climatic conditions, which are more demanding than those in flat regions. While the region does not have a large local population, the increasing number of tourists visiting the area significantly contributes to the accumulation of solid waste. In the year 2019, a total of 1.905 metric tons per year of solid waste was generated, out of which 1.688 metric tons per year waste was collected, 0.413 metric tons per year is treated and only 0.263 metric tons per year waste is landfilled. Vermicomposting, composting, and biogas production are poor methods of handling biodegradable waste due to the region’s harsh cold weather. In response to the growing problem of waste management, special legislation for the Indian Himalayan area were amended in 2016. These laws set out certain requirements for developing solid waste treatment facilities and promote the use of waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies. Conversion of waste into resources requires various techniques like composting, trash recycling, refuse-derived fuel (RDF), anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas recovery. Hence, adoptive measures like enforcing ‘polluter pay’ regulations and implementing a ‘prohibition on disposable plastic’ have the potential to significantly contribute to the development of proper waste management. Accordingly, an efficient infrastructure is essential to promote a sustainable development in the regions of Indian Himalayas. In this context, this chapter examines the present state of knowledge about waste management strategies among indigenous populations, as well as the issues that arise in the Himalayan area.