Innovation in solid waste management through Clean Development Mechanism in India and other countries

• Analysis of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) projects registered under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
• Annual emission reductions, methodologies used and technologies employed for MSWM projects under CDM is reported.
• The spread of the CDM projects across India is highlighted.
• Areas where India could work in the future for better MSWM using CDM is presented.

This paper focuses on the potential of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management in India. About 350 MSW projects are implemented through CDM across 56 countries. The maximum MSW management CDM projects are implemented in China (102) followed by Brazil (45) and Mexico (28). Fourteen countries registered two projects individually and twenty-three countries registered a single project individually. About 22 CDM projects for MSW management are registered in India. The annual estimated emission reduction from these 22 projects is 1,467,371 ton CO2e/annum. Approved large-scale methodology (AM0025) and approved small-scale methodology (AMS III.F) are the most widely used methodologies. The highest numbers of projects are registered in the state of Delhi. These CDM projects use technologies viz. refuse-derived fuel pelletization, landfill capture, biogas generation, and composting. These technologies assist in reducing pollutants and landfill space, and generating energy and useful by-products. Policy and barriers for MSW management in India are highlighted and plans for implementation of more CDM projects are proposed. Though physical, operational, regulatory, and socio-economic challenges exist for MSW management, India should make the best use of the opportunity that CDM offers and develop projects to benefit in terms of finance, technology and sustainable development.