The enormous quantities of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in Indian cities has emerged as a serious concern. In order to reduce the negative environmental impacts of MSW accumulation in dumpsites or unsecured landfills across India, various measures have been proposed to facilitate conversion of MSW into a valuable resource. One such measure is the immense potential for utilization of MSW as a source of energy. In this study, a comprehensive estimation of the energy potential of freshly dumped MSW has been conducted at a large unsecured landfill site in Okhla, Delhi, which is the capital city of India. Multiple regression models were developed to predict gross calorific value (GCV) and net calorific value (NCV) of MSW in terms of physical composition, proximate analysis and ultimate analysis of the waste. The developed models were found to give a reasonably good prediction of energy content of freshly dumped MSW in the landfill. Food waste, inerts, textile and paper were found to be the prime constituents of fresh MSW arriving at the landfill site. Based on the statistical analysis, volatile matter content and oxygen content of MSW were found to be non-significant terms in the energy content models derived using proximate analysis and ultimate analysis, respectively. The models developed in this study can be used to predict energy content of MSW at other landfill sites in India under similar climatic conditions and disposal practices.

印度城市产生的大量城市固体废物 (MSW) 已成为一个严重问题。为了减少印度各地垃圾场或不安全垃圾填埋场中垃圾堆积对环境的负面影响，已经提出了各种措施来促进将垃圾转化为宝贵的资源。其中一项措施是利用 MSW 作为能源的巨大潜力。在这项研究中，在印度首都德里奥克拉的一个大型无安全垃圾填埋场对新倾倒的 MSW 的能源潜力进行了综合评估。开发了多元回归模型，以从废物的物理成分、近似分析和最终分析方面预测 MSW 的总热值 (GCV) 和净热值 (NCV)。发现开发的模型对垃圾填埋场中新倾倒的 MSW 的能量含量给出了相当好的预测。食物垃圾、惰性物质、纺织品和纸张被发现是到达垃圾填埋场的新鲜 MSW 的主要成分。根据统计分析，MSW 的挥发分含量和氧含量在分别使用近似分析和最终分析得出的能量含量模型中被发现是不显着的项。本研究中开发的模型可用于预测在类似气候条件和处置实践下印度其他垃圾填埋场的 MSW 能量含量。根据统计分析，MSW 的挥发分含量和氧含量在分别使用近似分析和最终分析得出的能量含量模型中被发现是不显着的项。本研究中开发的模型可用于预测在类似气候条件和处置实践下印度其他垃圾填埋场的 MSW 能量含量。根据统计分析，MSW 的挥发分含量和氧含量在分别使用近似分析和最终分析得出的能量含量模型中被发现是不显着的项。本研究中开发的模型可用于预测在类似气候条件和处置实践下印度其他垃圾填埋场的 MSW 能量含量。