SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is generating nearly 1,557 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day, while hundreds of tonnes remain untreated and several towns continue to rely on local dumping sites due to incomplete infrastructure and stalled waste management projects.
The figures have emerged in the Government’s affidavit and Action Taken Report submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and environmental directives issued by the tribunal on September 24, 2025, according to reports appearing in the media.
According to the affidavit, Jammu and Kashmir generates around 936 tonnes per day (TPD) of biodegradable waste, 443.17 TPD recyclable waste and 177.69 TPD inert waste. While nearly 1,530.8 TPD waste is being collected and transported daily, only around 1,027 TPD is scientifically processed through various facilities across the Union Territory, leaving nearly 352 TPD untreated.
The report identifies Srinagar Municipal Corporation as the single largest waste generator in the Union Territory, producing nearly 550 TPD garbage every day. Jammu Municipal Corporation follows with around 380 TPD waste generation daily.
The Government informed the tribunal that Srinagar’s waste is being processed at the Achan facility through windrow composting, while Jammu operates its waste processing system at Kot Bhalwal. Srinagar currently handles nearly 110 TPD wet waste and produces around 22 TPD compost, whereas Jammu processes approximately 164 TPD wet waste and generates about 32.8 TPD compost.
Among other urban centres, Anantnag generates 69.3 TPD waste, Udhampur 53.2 TPD, Katra 38.8 TPD, Kathua 25.3 TPD, Sopore 25.8 TPD, Baramulla 24.5 TPD, Rajouri 17.4 TPD, Bandipora 15.6 TPD and Poonch 11.3 TPD.
Despite the existing facilities, the affidavit acknowledges major gaps in scientific waste disposal systems. Municipalities including Bandipora, Langate, Pattan, Uri and Frisal are still dumping portions of waste at local sites because scientific processing facilities are either incomplete or non-functional.
Bandipora alone is reportedly dumping nearly 14 TPD waste at local sites, while Pattan dumps around 7 TPD, Langate around 3 TPD and Uri nearly 2 TPD.
The report states that several municipalities are presently dependent on cluster arrangements for waste treatment. Memorandums of Understanding have been signed between neighbouring civic bodies to share processing infrastructure.
Under these arrangements, Lakhanpur is linked with Kathua, Hiranagar with Samba, Ramgarh with Vijaypur and Chenani with Batote. Several municipalities in Kashmir have also been clustered with Anantnag, Budgam and Baramulla for waste processing.
The affidavit further reveals multiple obstacles affecting implementation of waste management projects across the Union Territory. At Frisal, civil work on waste facilities was reportedly halted due to public interference. In Uri, tenders have only been floated for compost pit construction, while in Pattan the work has merely been allotted. Construction work in Bandipora and Wattergam remains under progress.
The Government also admitted that certain projects suffered damage due to natural causes. In R S Pura, the waste processing site was reportedly washed away in floods.
On dry waste management, the affidavit states that Jammu and Kashmir presently handles around 415.36 TPD dry waste through Material Recovery Facilities having a combined capacity of 504.40 TPD.
Srinagar generates nearly 30 TPD Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and 70 TPD recyclables, while Jammu produces around 50 TPD RDF and 80 TPD recyclables. The Directorate of Urban Local Bodies Jammu and Directorate of Urban Local Bodies Kashmir generate approximately 34.4 TPD and 39.4 TPD RDF respectively.
However, in a significant disclosure, the Government admitted that Jammu and Kashmir presently has no dedicated RDF pellet or briquette plant. The affidavit states that combustible waste including multilayer plastics, laminated packaging material, cloth pieces, foams and rags is currently converted only into loose RDF and stored at processing sites.
The Government informed the tribunal that the RDF generated in Jammu and Kashmir is proposed to be utilized as alternate fuel in cement industries, though consultations on the proposal are still underway.
The affidavit lists several measures initiated by the Government for strengthening waste management infrastructure, including establishment of windrow and pit composting facilities, outsourcing of plant operations, development of Material Recovery Facilities, clustering of municipalities for shared processing and sale of compost to farmers and households.
It further states that multiple Integrated Solid Waste Management projects have either been approved by the Cabinet or are presently under implementation in different districts.
While the report highlights expansion of infrastructure and corrective measures undertaken by the Government, it simultaneously points to continued dependence on dumping sites, delayed execution of projects and absence of advanced waste conversion systems across several urban local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir.
