Pollution from winter waste burning in cities three times higher than summer, study finds
A WRI India study reveals that open waste burning in Indian cities triples during winter months compared to summer. The practice is most prevalent in poorer areas of Tier 2 cities, contributing to localized toxic smoke exposure.
Why it matters
The findings underscore the intersection of municipal waste management failures, socio-economic inequality, and public health risks during winter pollution spikes.
Open waste burning rises sharply in winter across different categories of Indian cities, with the average incidence, quantity of waste burned, and associated emissions as much as three times higher than in summer, according to a working paper by the World Resources Institute (WRI) India, made public on Thursday (September 10, 2026). The findings come as cities approach the post-monsoon period, when falling temperatures and stagnant atmospheric conditions typically make it harder for pollutants to disperse.
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