Analyzing Key Flows and Processes of Waste Management for Environmental Improvement in Chennai, India : A Minor Field Study with a Life Cycle and Socio-Technical Systems Perspective

Abstract: Waste management (WM) is a prominent issue in the world’s most populated country, India. Lack of WM can have a negative impact on the environment through leachate contamination of water bodies and emissions of greenhouse gases. The purpose of this study was to thoroughly map WM processes in South East India and identify areas with potential for environmental improvement. This was conducted in three steps: by mapping the flows in a WM system in Chennai (India), by qualitatively assessing these flows through a literature review of articles published in the field, and by interviewing representatives from the company that are responsible for the collection and transportation of waste to identify what challenges the process faces and how they can be addressed. The main finding from the study was that the lack of site-specific data made it difficult to quantitatively assess the global warming potential of the process; however, it is possible to make a qualitative analysis. From study visits to the different treatment facilities, it was clear that energy recovery is a technical solution that could reduce the GWP of the process. Additionally, it became clear that the process should be seen as a socio-technical system, as the studied process is currently focusing on developing and improving the social elements of the process. These social elements include getting the residents to segregate their waste through education in schools and door-to-door collection. The results also showed how an improved cultural perception on WM could potentially influence several of the identified challenges in the process and their respective solutions. Finally, the study highlighted the importance of conducting more in-depth research to enable the implementation of an LCA that can contribute with valuable results.