Solid waste management (SWM) has emerged as a significant public health and environmental concern, especially in rapidly urbanizing cities like Indore. Solid waste comprises unwanted or discarded materials from residential, commercial, or industrial sources, mainly categorised into municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial waste, and biomedical waste.[1,2] India generates over 150,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, and this figure is projected to rise significantly due to increasing urbanization and economic activity. Of this, only 20–25% is scientifically processed or recycled, while the rest is either openly dumped or ends up in landfills, posing severe environmental and health hazards.[3] In response to national sanitation crisis, the Government of India launched the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in 2014, aiming to enhance sanitation and waste management practices across the country. Indore has consistently ranked as India’s cleanest city under this mission, due to strategic innovations in SWM, including the use of smart software, NGO involvement, and advanced vehicle tracking systems.[4] Despite such efforts, challenges persist- especially in low-income and slum areas. These include lack of awareness, behavioural resistance, inadequate sanitation infrastructure, and poor waste segregation.[5] Hence, assessing the knowledge and practices of SWM in both urban and slum residents becomes essential for evidence-based interventions and sustainable policy planning.[6] This study aims to assess and compare the SWM practices and knowledge among urban and slum residents in Indore city.

A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 250 people of >18 years of age group residing in urban and slum area of Indore city as study subjects for a duration of 6 months from August 2024 to January 2025. Sample size was calculated using the following formula based on the prevalence of Solid Waste Segregation found in the previous study.[7] n = (Z_(1-α/2)^2*p*q)/(d)^2 = ((1.96)^2*70*30)/(6)^2 = 224= 250 Z_(1-α/2)^2 = Confidence level at 95% p = prevalence of solid waste segregation in previous study i.e. 70% q = 100 – p (30%) d= Margin of error i.e. 6% Study population includes 125 subjects from the household residents of urban area and 125 subjects from the slum area. All study subjects were interviewed with pretested and predesigned semi-structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge and practices regarding solid waste management. People who are willing to participate and able to understand the questions were included in the study and and people who were involved in the hospital waste, industrial waste and school waste were excluded from the study. Informed consent was obtained from each person. Statistical techniques: Setting at P<0.05 level of significance, the comparison between rural and urban areas about solid waste management practices were assessed by several statistical tests. Data were analysed using SPSS 25 version.

Table 1- Demographic distribution in urban and slum area Factor Urban n=125(%) Slum n=125(%) Total Sex Male 48(38.4%) 57(45.6%) Female 77(61.6%) 68(54.4%) Total 125 125 250(100%) Age 18-20 11(8.8%) 5(4%) 21-30 48(38.4%) 25(20%) 31-40 31(24.8%) 42(33.6%) 41-50 29(23.2%) 20(16%) >50 6(4.8%) 33(26.4%) Total 125 125 250(100%) Marital Status Married 77(61.6%) 90(72%) Unmarried(Single) 48(38.4%) 35(28%) Total 125 125 250(100%) Education Literate 112(89.6%) 66(52.8%) IIliterate 13(10.4%) 59(47.2%) Total 125 125 100% The study comprised total 250 participants. In urban area, females constituted a higher proportion (61.6%) than males (38.4%). The majority of urban participants were aged 21–30 years (38.4%), while in slum area, the majority of participant had the highest representation in the 31–40 age group (33.6%). Most of the participants were married in both settings- 61.6% in urban and 72% in slum areas. 89.6% of urban participants were literate versus 52.8% in slum areas. Table 2- Knowledge and behavioral practices of Urban and Slum residents: S. No. Characteristics Category Urban n=125(%) Slum n=125(%) p- Value A. Knowledge about waste segregation Yes 122(97.6%) 66(52.8%) <0.00001 Fischer exact test No 3(2.4%) 59(47.2%) B. Disposal method Dump Site 40(32%) 86(68.8%) <0.00001 Fischer exact test Burning in open pit 5(4%) 13(10.4%) Collected by truck 77(61.6%) 23(18.4%) Indiscriminate disposal 3(2.4%) 3(2.4%) C. Storage device Polythene bags 68(54.4%) 75(60%) 0.29 chi square test Waste Storage Containers 45(36%) 34(27.2%) Others 12(9.6%) 16(12.8%) D. Use covered dustbin Yes 49(39.2%) 42(33.6%) 0.35 chi square test No 76(60.8%) 83(66.4%) E. Collect garbage and litter separately Yes 100(80% 35(28%) <0.00001 chi square test No 25(20%) 90(72%) F. Garbage trucks collect garbage on daily basis Yes 115(92%) 84(67.2%) <0.00001 chi square test No 10(8%) 41(32.8%) G. Presence of bin in society area Yes 34(27.2%) 3(2.4%) <0.00001 Fischer exact test No 91(72.8%) 122(97.6%) H. Recycle organic and kitchen waste as fertilizers Yes 15(12%) 76(60.8%) <0.00001 chi square test No 110(88%) 49(39.2%) I. Awareness about Swachchh Bharat Mission Yes 85(68%) 45(36%) <0.00001 chi square test No 40(32% 80(64%) The above table shows that urban residents (97.6%) had significantly higher awareness about waste segregation compared to slum residents (52.8%). The majority of slum residents (68.8%) dispose waste by dumping in open pits compared to only 32% in urban areas. 61.6% waste were collected by Municipal van in urban area while only 18.4% in slums. Polythene bags are the most commonly used storage device in both groups (Urban: 54.4%, Slum: 60%). Only 39.2% of urban and 33.6% of slum residents use covered dustbins. 80% of urban residents collect garbage and litter separately in different dustbins compared to only 28% in slums. 92% of urban residents report daily garbage collection by Municipal van, as opposed to 67.2% in slum areas. Almost 3/4th participants (72.8%) of urban areas report of having community bins compared to only 2.4% in slums. Only 12% of urban and 60.8% of slum residents recycle organic waste. More than half of urban residents (68%) were aware about of Swachchh Bharat Mission while in slum area only 36% were aware. Table no. 3 Sanitary napkin disposal practices: S.No. Category Urban Slum p- Value 1 Dump Site 17(13.6%) 70(56%) <0.00001 Fischer exact test 2 Burning in open pit 4(3.2%) 15(12%) 3 Collected by truck 102(81.6%) 36(28.8%) 4 Indiscriminate disposal 2(1.6%) 4(3.2%) Total 125(100%) 125(100%) The above table presents sanitary napkin disposal practices among urban and slum populations. A highly significant difference was observed between the two groups (p < 0.00001; Fisher’s exact test). In urban areas, the majority of respondents (81.6%) reported disposal in municipal van, whereas in slum areas, only 28.8% followed this method. Conversely, dumping at open sites was significantly more common in the slum population (56%) compared to the urban group (13.6%). Burning in open pits was reported by 12% of slum participants and 3.2% of urban participants. Indiscriminate disposal was reported in both areas but remained low overall (urban: 1.6%, slum: 3.2%). Bivariate analysis: Bivariate analysis using fischer exact test showed a significant statistical difference between the knowledge of urban and slum residents (p value<0.0001). Urban residents were more aware than slum dwellers. Significant differences emerged in several behavioural practices also. Urban residents demonstrated better garbage segregation behaviour (p value<0.0001), with a higher tendency to dispose of waste in separate dustbins. Municipal waste collection services were also reported to be more regular and efficient in urban areas, highlighting disparities in service delivery in urban and slum area (p value<0.0001). Additionally, access to community dustbins was considerably better in urban settings, pointing to a clear infrastructure gap in slum localities (p value<0.0001). Despite of limited formal systems, slum residents showed a higher tendency to recycle organic waste. This statistically significant trend may reflect the presence of informal or traditional recycling practices within slum communities (p value<0.0001).

In our study, Urban residents reported 97.6% awareness of waste segregation versus 52.8% among slum residents in Indore city as compared to the similar study conducted by Tomas et al., in which majority of urban residents had moderate knowledge (48.5%), followed 34.4% had high knowledge. Most rural respondents displayed moderate knowledge (64.8%), with the remaining 35.2% having high knowledge.[8] In similar study conducted by Rakesh M et al, Knowledge and awareness about waste disposal were present in 74.5% participants, while 25.5% lacked this awareness.[7] In our study, Open dumping was far more prevalent in slums (68.8%) than urban settings (32%).In the similar study conducted by Kona C et al, the most commonly reported disposal methods were burning (51.5%) followed by dumping in open spaces (48%). Other reported methods included man-made waste pits (18.5%), disposal in a water body (5.5%) and disposal in public dust bins (9%).[9] In our study, majority of slum participants resorted to open dumping (56%) or burning (12%), compared to urban collection (81.6%). as compared to the similar study conducted by Tomas et al., in which urban households mainly buried sanitary waste (61.1%), with smaller percentages dumping in empty plots (6.0%), roadside (5.5%), or burning it (26.9%). Rural households showed a diverse range of disposal practices, including burying (20.0%), dumping in empty plots (15.2%), roadside (17.1%), and burning (47.6%).[8] In our study, 92% of urban residents report daily garbage collection by Municipal van (kachra gadi), as opposed to 67.2% in slum areas whereas in the study conducted by Rakesh M et al, 58.5% dispose waste daily, 25% more than once a week, and 33 (16.5%) once a week. The primary method of waste disposal was through corporation dustbins 72%, with others opting for open fields 19% or burning 9%[7]. In similar study conducted by Jayaseelan V et al, majority (47.9%) of the respondents used municipal waste collection points to dispose their household wastes while 45.3% resort to open dumping. 6.8% even burnt their wastes openly.[10] Majority (47.9%) of the respondents used municipal waste collection points to dispose their Majority (47.9%) of the respondents used municipal waste collection points to dispose the In our study, 60.8% of slum respondents engaged in organic recycling—substantially higher than urban counterparts (12%). In similar study conducted by Tomas et al., the majority of households (63.9%) disposed of organic kitchen waste by giving it to waste or scrap collectors. 9.5% of urban households reused organic waste, and 26.6% respondants engaged in home composting or recycling whereas rural households primarily disposed of organic kitchen waste through reuse (48.6%) and home composting or recycling (51.4%).[8]In our study, 68% in urban area were aware about of swachchh bharat abhiyan while in slum area only 36% were aware. In the similar study conducted by Kona C et al Less than half of the participants were being aware of government schemes such as Swachh Bharat Mission for solid waste management which further aggravate the problem.[9] In our study, 80% of urban residents collect garbage and liter separately in different dustbins compared to only 28% in slums whereas in similar study conducted by Rakesh M et al ,waste segregation was practiced by 70% of households.[7] In similar study conducted by Jayaseelan V et al, a majority of the sample (87.2%) did not practice waste segregation.[10]

This study highlights significant disparities in socio-demographic profiles, infrastructure access, and waste management practices between urban and slum communities in Indore. However, the strong prevalence of informal organic recycling in slums presents an opportunity to integrate traditional practices into formal systems.

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