Innovation and best practices in household waste management: A case study of Maharashtra

Abstract

Appropriate waste management for residential regions serves as a fundamental pillar of sustainable urban development. In Maharashtra, India’s most populous and industrialized state solid waste management, particularly at the household level, remains a significant operational and environmental challenge. This paper examines innovative and community-driven strategies implemented across key cities in Maharashtra, including Pune, Navi Mumbai, Kolhapur, and Nashik. Key strategies such as Smart Waste Monitoring Systems, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, Community-Based Segregation and Composting, Decentralized Biogas Systems, and Circular Economy initiatives have shown tangible, positive outcomes. These localized models highlight how technological advancements, active civic engagement, integrated policy support, and decentralized systems can collectively build a replicable and sustainable framework for waste governance. The study concludes by advocating for the wider adoption of these best practices and underscores the necessity for enhanced collaboration among municipal authorities, private sector stakeholders, and local communities. Among all surveyed cities, Pune emerges as the most effective in managing household-level waste, offering a replicable blueprint for other urban areas within the state.