India's Principal Scientific Adviser chaired a review of a project that developed a Life Cycle Assessment framework and a web-based GHG calculator for solid waste management. The tool, built by IISc Bengaluru, IIT Madras, and IIT (BHU) Varanasi, helps Urban Local Bodies compare waste treatment options like anaerobic digestion, incineration, biomining, and landfilling based on carbon footprint. Case studies from six cities, including Bengaluru and Delhi, were presented, along with a national roadmap for low-emission waste systems. The project aligns with Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and aims to give municipalities a practical way to quantify emissions from existing and planned waste infrastructure. The GHG calculator covers net emissions, avoided emissions, logistic emissions, and multiple greenhouse gases. The next step is ensuring these tools are actually adopted by local bodies, which will require institutional support and possibly integration with funding or reporting rules.
