New tool to help cities quantify greenhouse gas emissions from food waste

Published 18 July 2026 · india

As India grapples with rising food waste and the subsequent increase in greenhouse gas emissions, WRI India (World Resources Institute India) has developed a tool

As India grapples with rising food waste and the subsequent increase in greenhouse gas emissions, WRI India (World Resources Institute India) has developed a tool that enables cities, businesses, and residential communities to estimate emissions generated across the food waste management chain and identify opportunities to reduce them. The India Food Waste GHG Emission Estimation Tool estimates emissions from the collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal of food waste. It also calculates emissions that can be avoided through interventions such as reducing food waste at source and redistributing surplus food for human or animal consumption. The technical note accompanying the tool points out that India generated about 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste in 2022-23, a figure expected to rise to 165 million tonnes by 2030 and 436 million tonnes by 2050.

Food waste alone was estimated to have emitted 106.62 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) in 2023, underscoring the need to address emissions from the sector. According to the report, while India’s solid waste management rules promote segregation and decentralised processing of wet waste, food waste continues to be treated as part of the broader category of biodegradable waste, with no dedicated framework for estimating its climate impact or tracking emissions. The Excel-based tool has been designed for urban local bodies, bulk waste generators, resident welfare associations, retailers, and food service providers. Depending on the data available, users can input information on the food waste generated, the vehicles used for transportation, distances travelled, and treatment or disposal methods to estimate greenhouse gas emissions.

To estimate transport-related emissions, the tool uses India-specific emission factors for different vehicle and fuel types. Emissions from treatment and disposal are calculated using internationally recognised emission factors for practices including composting, biogas generation, vermicomposting, landfilling, open dumping and sewer disposal, as India-specific values are not yet available for all treatment methods. The report identifies landfilling as the most emission-intensive disposal option, estimating emissions of 6.528 tonnes of CO₂e per tonne of dry matter per year. In contrast, source reduction and redistribution of edible surplus food are identified as the lowest-emission approaches, reinforcing the need to prioritise food waste prevention over disposal. Developed using insights from WRI India’s work with the Municipal Corporations of Pune and Indore, the tool aims at helping local governments integrate food waste into climate action planning, strengthen waste management strategies, and support emissions reporting.