The objective of rural solid waste management is to collect waste at the source of generation, recovery of recyclable materials for recycling, conversion of organic waste to compost and secured disposal of remaining waste.

Generation of solid waste in rural areas ranges between 50 gm/cap /day and 250 gm / cap / day as mentioned below:

• Rural (Peri-urban or Urban outgrowth) 150 to 250 gm / cap / day.
• Rural (Remote /Tribal) 50 to 150 gm / cap / day.

The following are the parts of RSWM

• Household segregation (organic and inorganic: Recyclables / Non recyclables.)
• Household Storage (In plastic containers)
• Containerized collection (House to house)
• Transportation (Pedal Tricycle / Handcart / other types)
• Transfer or recyclables / recycling
• Treatment and disposal

The various methods for treatment of solid waste which found an extensive use in the rural solid waste management are:

1. Household level composting
2. Vermicomposting
3. Secured Landfilling

In order to properly manage solid waste with minimum effort and cost, the focus must be on management at the household and community level. The following steps may be followed for introducing community-based rural solid waste management system.

• Step 1: Information collection.
• Step 2: Participatory planning
• Step 3: Preparation of GP/Block level action