Open Municipal Solid Waste Burning in Vadodara City and Its Mitigation Measures

The document is an in-depth report detailing a primary survey on open municipal solid waste burning in Vadodara, India, a city identified as having critical air pollution issues. This study utilized a transect walk method during the summer and winter of 2023 to collect granular data on the frequency, mass, and composition of burning incidents across socioeconomic status (SES) and industrial zones. 
Findings indicate that industrial areas consistently had the highest number of open MSW burning incidents, followed closely by medium-SES neighbourhoods, with common reasons cited being convenience, infrequent waste collection, and material extraction. To combat this, the report proposes extensive mitigation strategies, including grassroots awareness programs, enhanced solid waste management in industrial zones, the provision of affordable heating alternatives for low-income communities, and the strict enforcement of anti-burning regulations with fines. These recommendations are mapped to specific implementation periods, focusing on improving SWM practices and integrating informal waste workers.