Integrated solid waste managemnt (ISWM) in its simplest sense incorporates the waste management hierarchy (Tchobanoglous et al., 1993; Ramachandra 2006) by considering direct impacts (transportation, collection, treatment and disposal of waste) and indirect impacts (use of waste materials and energy outside the waste management system). It is a framework that can be built on to optimize the existing systems, as well as to design and implement new waste management systems. ISWM is also a process of change that gradually brings in the management of wastes from all media (solid, liquid and gas). The collection of recyclable materials from households can reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. The use of recycled materials in place of virgin materials in production also leads to reduction in the demand for energy. IWSM also includes the fundamental issue of governance. It stresses the need for local bodies to be more aware of people’s concerns and for citizens to be more involved in civic affairs. This highlights the need to develop a sound management structure, seek technical and institutional support, and possibly work more closely with the private sector in reclaiming the full value of the waste resource in order to finance and support the collection schemes.

Planning integrated solid waste management: Any city or town will be in need of an effective solid waste management system to ensure better human health and safety. The system needs to be safe for workers and safeguard public health by preventing the spread of disease. In addition to these prerequisites, an effective solid waste manage must be environmentally sustainable and economically feasible. It is quite difficult to minimise the environmental impacts and the cost simultaneously. The balance that needs to be struck is to reduce the overall environmental impacts of waste management as far as possible, within an acceptable level of cost. An economically and environmentally sustainable solid waste management system is effective if it follows an integrated approach i.e. it deals with all types of waste beginning from its generation to its disposal. The integrated approach must be based on a logical hierarchy of actions.