May, 21: The burning of agricultural waste, along with the dumping, burning and poor segregation of household waste cause air pollution, water contamination and the spread of infectious diseases in India’s fast-growing cities.
Experts at the University of Leeds have joined forces with researchers in India, Hong Kong and the UK to co-author two studies that aim to accelerate India’s decarbonisation efforts.
Tackling harmful household waste
Municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in urban areas could increase twelve-fold by 2050 at current consumption levels, according to a study published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology.
Dr Daya Pandey, Assistant Professor in Energy Systems in the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds, said: “If we carry on with business as usual, mountains of garbage will surround India’s major cities.”
By analysing historic waste trends and projecting future scenarios to 2050, the international research team argues that greater infrastructure investment is needed to deliver modern, circular waste systems that significantly reduce harmful emissions and human exposure to toxic substances.
Their recommendations include improved segregation at source, expanded recycling and processing facilities and reduced landfill dependence.
Such measures are seen as key to India meeting its target of net zero by 2070 and the recently adopted Solid Waste Management Rules (2026), which focus on minimising landfill and promoting source segregation.
The research brings together interdisciplinary experts from the University of Leeds, King’s College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the UK along with expertise from key Indian institutions.
These include the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur and the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI). Researchers from Manipal Institute of Technology, Albokoes EnviroSustain Pvt Ltd (India) and Hong Kong Baptist University also contributed to the study.
Dr Daya Pandey, University of Leeds says, “UK institutions bring expertise in public health, climate policy and net zero analysis, while Indian partners contribute deep understanding of governance, financing and human behaviour.”
Sustainable agricultural waste
The agricultural sector is the second‑largest contributor to India’s total greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to the highly polluting practice of in‑situ crop residue burning.
A study by Leeds and IIT Kharagpur, published in the journal Biomass and Bioenergy, demonstrates how India can harness its abundant agricultural waste to generate renewable energy and high-value products through technological innovation, targeted policy reforms and circular bioeconomy approaches.
The study concludes that sustainable agricultural residue management not only mitigates emissions but also strengthens rural livelihoods.
Such moves would drive India’s transition toward a greener society and help the country meet its 2070 net-zero economy target.
No silver bullet
Dr Pandey added:
“In the past, MSW in India was largely food waste. Today, due to rising household incomes and changing consumption habits, it now contains a higher proportion of dry solid waste, such as packaging material. There is no silver bullet for tackling this ever growing problem sustainably. Fast developing countries like India therefore need waste management systems that are locally adapted and shaped by policy. This is where UK-India academic collaboration proves valuable: UK institutions bring expertise in public health, climate policy and net zero analysis, while Indian partners contribute deep understanding of governance, financing and human behaviour.”
Dr Vinay Yadav, Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, said:
“India’s cities are heading toward a severe waste crisis. This is not just about waste generation and its management, but it’s more about public health, climate impact and the livability of our cities. The good news is that this crisis is preventable. With smarter policies, better infrastructure and a shift toward a circular economy where waste is reduced, reused and recycled, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity. But the time to act is now, before the problem becomes unmanageable.”
Another lead author, Mohit Arora, Lecturer in Engineering at King’s College London, said that sustainability and decarbonisation across the developing world remain a global responsibility in which universities have a crucial role.
Leeds has an established academic partnership with IIT Kharagpur. A Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024 covers joint supervision of PhDs in Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Transport Studies and Biological Sciences.
A delegation led by Leeds’ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Shearer West visited New Delhi in June 2025 to agree research and student education alliances spanning medicine, engineering, biotechnology and social sciences. The visit reflects the growing importance of India within the University’s international strategy.