Solid wastes are any non-liquid wastes that arise from human and animal activities that are normally solid and that are discarded as useless or unwanted. These are the organic and inorganic waste materials such as product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, kitchen refuse, paper, appliances, paint cans, batteries, etc., produced in a society, which do not generally carry any value to the first user (Ramachandra 2009). Municipal solid waste comprises of wastes generated from residences, markets, hotels and restaurants, commercial premises, slums, street sweeping and parks. Bangalore residences contribute 55% of total of wastes, which is highest among all sources (Chanakya and Sharatchandra, 2005; Ramachandra 2011; Ramachandra et al., 2012). Waste generated from hotels and eateries form about 20%, fruit and vegetable markets contribute about 15%, trade and commerce about 6% and from street sweeping and parks about 3% (Table 2). The slum areas contribute only 1% of total, since in Bangalore slum population is low in comparison to other metropolitan city like Mumbai, Delhi or Kolkata. For cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata waste generated (%) for slum population is not available. Slum population in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore is 49%, 19%, 33%, 18% and 8% (Census of India, 2001), respectively. MSW generation for Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai are 2653, 3036, 5922 and 5320 t/day, respectively. Contribution of slum in total MSW generated in these cities are approximately 875.49, 546.48, 1125.18 and 2606.8 t/day for Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, respectively.

Waste management strategies of these waste sources may vary with quantity and composition of waste.

Table 2. MSW generation in Bangalore