Conclusion

A simple method to identify the locations of unauthorized dumping is developed that could be used for various cities. The method is based on rapid group based survey and its further verification and validation.  Such survey could easily estimate the level of leakage and overall choice of sites for dumping.  The single largest cause of their occurrence is the semi-organized recovery units that recover recyclables from freshly collected USW from most likely producers like software firms and their canteens.  Over 90% of the wastes dumps located are from this origin and suggests that better and cleaner methods needs to taken up to facilitate this recycling activity.  The overall estimates have been verified and validated by three methods and the extent of deviation observed is well within targeted and useful range for such an activity.  Therefore this method could provide rapid estimates of unauthorized dumping activities around other Indian cities as well.  The total amount of waste disposed in unauthorized dumping is 158645t based on field measurement with average deviation of 46% in comparison to visual estimation.