Findings from the Closing the Data Gap Challenge: Solid and Plastic Waste Assessment in Udaipur, India

Conducted as part of the Closing the Data Gap Challenge, a joint initiative by The Circulate Initiative and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste to bridge knowledge gaps that are preventing action against plastic pollution across different geographies, this report provides an overview of the state of waste generation and management in Udaipur, India.  

The study reports on municipal solid waste generated, plastic waste generated and recycled, and the livelihoods and working conditions of informal waste workers in the city of Udaipur. The study’s findings will help inform plastics value chain actors, organizations addressing the plastic waste challenge, and policy-makers to drive the right decisions and investments, speed up progress in implementing solutions, and monitor improvements towards a more circular economy.

Key takeaways from this report include:

• Total municipal solid waste (MSW) generated amounts to 0.4 kg per person per day. Approximately 68% of the MSW generated is collected.
• Plastic waste accounts for 16.0% of total MSW and 9.8% of household waste; 45% of total plastic waste is recycled.
• Informal waste workers work an average of five hours and earn an average income of INR 250-300 (US$ 3-4) daily.
• Each informal waste worker household collects an average of 25 kg of dry waste. Of this, approximately five kilograms is plastic. Sorted waste is typically sold weekly.