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From Waste Clusters to Cleaner Landscapes: Mapping Illegal Dumping in Peri-Urban Areas using GIS and Geo-Tagged Surveys
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Researchers mapped illegal roadside trash dumping sites in peri-urban Thanjavur, India, using GPS surveys and mapping software. Dumping sites grew from 318 to 1,325 within months, with sharp rises in construction debris, plastic waste and biomedical waste, suggesting worsening waste management problems in the area.
Improper solid waste management (SWM) remains a critical environmental and public health challenge in peri-urban regions of developing countries, driven by weak infrastructure, socio-economic disparities and inadequate monitoring. This study investigates the spatial–temporal dynamics and typology of roadside waste dumping in the peri-urban zones of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, using geo-tagged field surveys integrated with GIS-based hotspot analysis. A total of 318 dumping sites were identified in January 2025, increasing sharply to 1,325 sites by mid-2025, representing an approximately 4.17-fold increase. Kernel density estimation revealed a transition from localized clusters to widespread, high-intensity hotspots, alongside the emergence of new dumping zones. Waste composition analysis indicates a significant increase and diversification, including construction debris, plastics and hazardous waste such as biomedical and e-waste. Individual waste-type analysis showed that C and D waste incidents increased from 117 to 323, while plastic waste increased from 21 to 141 instances. Overall C and D waste occurrences rose from 144 to 422 cases, nearly tripling during the study period. Biomedical waste exhibited the most alarming growth, increasing tenfold from 1 to 10 instances. The findings highlighted the escalating environmental and health risks. Hence, the research work emphasizing the need for integrated geospatial monitoring, improved waste management systems and targeted policy and community-based interventions.
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