Household Waste Collection and Management in Urban Low-Income Areas: Insights from Mumbai’s Central Suburbs

Abstract

Waste management is the need of an hour. It is one of the major concern for highly populated country like India. This paper looks at the challenges and practices of household waste collection and management in low-income urban areas, focusing on the central suburbs of Mumbai. Rapid urban growth, high population density, and poor infrastructure have made waste problems worse in these communities, where official municipal services often fall short. The study is empirical in nature. It aims to examine the various factors associated with the waste collection and management in Mumbai. The study explores waste sorting habits, how often waste is collected, the role of informal waste workers, and residents’ awareness of waste management rules. The findings show inconsistent service, low community involvement, and a strong dependence on informal collection networks. The study emphasizes the urgent need for inclusive, local, and community-led waste management approaches that consider economic challenges. Recommendations include raising public awareness, improving local governance, and formally including informal waste collectors. This paper offers practical ideas to improve sustainability and sanitation in underserved urban areas.