Solid waste management is one of the major environmental burdens particularly in megacities of many developed and developing Asian countries. An alarming rate of solid waste generation trends can be seen parallel to urbanization, industrialization and economic development.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has been implementing an ambitious programme of pollution abatement of rivers in India. It started in 1985 with the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) and gradually extended to other polluted rivers through National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).

Waste management is a serious concern for all emerging developing countries like Bangladesh.  With the rapid economic growth and urban development, waste disposal has emerged a major environmental issues in the urban areas of Bangladesh.  Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3R) of waste is an accepted approach to manage waste in an environment friendly manner.  Against this backdrop, the

This report is intended to assist those who influence public and private sector investments in solid waste collection systems in developing countries.

The Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has directed its International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) branch to take action in the area of waste management. There are substantial co-benefits of waste management in the context of climate change.