Title: Waste trade market in the city of Bhopal, India: a case study on recycled MSW

Authors: Mukul Kulshrestha

Addresses: Environmental Engineering Division, Department of Civil Engineering, MANIT-Bhopal 462051, India

Abstract: This paper investigates the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) trade market in the city of Bhopal, India, and presents results of field surveys conducted to determine the movement of MSW through a succession of ragpickers and traders to its ultimate destination of Recycling-Units. This waste-trade is carried out through a hierarchy of waste-dealers who deal in increasing waste specificities such that profits grow at each level for every waste-item sold. The paper details these transactions, and discusses some policy issues such as regulation of waste-trade markets, safety concerns of those involved in waste-collection, and related issues that arise consequent to this study.

Keywords: MSW; municipal solid waste; waste recycling; ragpickers; waste trade markets; policy issues; Bhopal; India; regulation; safety; solid waste management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2011.039474

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2011 Vol.7 No.3/4, pp.344 - 355

Published online: 24 Jan 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article