In the narrow alleys of old Delhi or the swanky apartments of Bengaluru, waste is one thing every household, rich or poor, produces daily. While we often toss our garbage without a second thought, India’s growing mountain of waste is silently piling up, becoming one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time.

How much waste does one Indian generate?

On average, each person in India generates around 340 grams of municipal solid waste every day. That might not sound like much—roughly the weight of a small packet of chips or a medium-sized apple. But when multiplied by over 1.4 billion people, the numbers quickly become overwhelming.

In total, India generates around 150,000 tonnes of waste every single day.

(Quick math: one tonne = 1,000 kg. Now imagine that being dumped daily, everywhere. And here’s the worrying bit—this number is climbing. By 2025, that 340 grams per person could double to 700 grams a day. That’s nearly a full kilo of waste per person. Every day. Let that sink in.

What kind of waste comes out of an Indian household?

Indian households, regardless of income level, generate a wide variety of waste every day. From food scraps to packaging materials, the waste we produce can be broken down into several key categories. Understanding these categories is the first step toward realising the scale of the problem and the changes we can make. Let’s take a closer look at what makes up our daily waste:

1. Wet Waste (Biodegradable)

• Leftover food
  
• Fruit peels
  
........


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