Everyday Bangalore generates around 3000-4000 tons of waste. A major fraction (72%) of total waste is organic or wet waste, which degrades in natural environment. This study is focused on the estimation of carbon footprint of household waste generated in Bangalore city. The results from two theoretical estimation methods, mass balance approach and default methodology are compared with the measurement results derived from experimental values. From the elemental composition and general theoretical chemical equation of aerobic and anaerobic degradation of waste amounts, total methane and carbon dioxide was estimated to be 670950 t/day and 1870 t/day by mass balance approach, considerably higher than 87.32 t/day of methane emission determined using default methodology. These values are still higher than the experimental estimated values of methane as well as of carbon dioxide. Total carbon footprint of municipal solid waste generated from the city is 361 kg/day of CO₂ equivalent in the environment.

Key Words: Municipal solid waste, Carbon footprint, GHG emissions, waste treatment, Bangalore