What a waste: Can India get rid of its garbage mountains? | In Focus podcast

India has a waste management problem. Though we reportedly collect 90% of our municipal solid waste, nearly 40% does not enter formal processing. Due to this large share that is out of the formal processing system, most Indian cities have garbage mountains – open dump sites and landfills. These dump sites have been linked to groundwater contamination and other public health risks. Critically, they are massive sources of non-CO2 greenhouse gases such as Methane.How to eliminate or shrink these dump sites? How to ensure that waste segregation is followed all the way from the collection point till the end of the fresh-waste disposal chain? What are the chances India can reduce landfill methane emissions to zero? A new report, titled ‘Municipal Solid Waste Management in : Policy and Technology Pathways for Climate Action’, says that with the right reforms, can reduce waste sector methane emissions by 99% within 10–15 years.Guests: Zerin Osho, Director of the Indian Program at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (IGSD), and Akshat Patni, Senior Adviser with IGSD.Host: G. SampathEdited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian and Jude WestonListen to more In Focus podcasts: Published - August 28, 2026 04:45 pm IST