• India ranks seventh globally in Solid Waste Generation(SWG).
• The present rate of SWG in India is 0.34 kg per capita per day, which is expected to increase to 0.7 kg per day by 2025.
• India will generate 165 million tonnes of waste by 2030.
• Out of 8 million tonnes of plastic waste in the world's oceans, the Meghna-Brahmaputra-Ganges river system dumps close to 73 thousand tons, making it the 6th most polluting river system contributing to marine plastic waste in the world.
These are some of India's shocking statistics regarding waste management.
India is well on track to become the third-largest economy in the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that Aatmanirbhar Bharat, or 'Self-Reliant India, ' will be a launch pad that will put India on a high economic growth trajectory that is inclusive and sustainable. With Self-Relaint India, the aim is to make the country and its citizens independent, and the vision is firmly rooted in sustainability.
Moreover, the circular economy is no longer a choice for India. With a rising population, urbanization, environmental challenges and international commitments, shifting towards a circular economy has become imperative for India. To quote William Shakespeare, "This above all: to thine own self be true," which means "be true to yourself," has been the guiding principle of the Modi government development agenda. If India grows without following the principle of sustainability, then such growth would be fictitious, as it would be unsustainable. Therefore, India's economic development must align with the principles of circularity, eliminating waste and pollution, circulating products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerating nature.
"India is making the circular economy a major tool for urban development." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Post-budget webinar speech, 2023.
The circular economy presents an economic approach focused on minimizing/eliminating wastage while promoting the optimal use or complete reuse of resources. It emphasizes the significance of embracing a holistic view of products and processes. India should embrace practices aligned with the principles of the circular economy to enhance industrial productivity, competitiveness and efficient use of the resources. Being a resource-intensive economy with a large and rapidly growing population, India has a vast potential to be a global leader in the Circular Economy.
India's adoption of a circular economy pathway could yield substantial environmental benefits and a reduction in congestion, thereby reducing pollution. This, in turn, has the potential to catalyze economic growth. Advancing towards a Circular Economy is vital given India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fulfilling the commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals regarding responsible consumption and production. The circular economy is also a key pillar of the Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the global community, which aims to encourage individuals to adopt environmentally friendly sustainable lifestyles.
The significance of the Circular Economy, extended to producer responsibility and resource efficiency in achieving sustainable development, was underscored in the Delhi Declaration at the G20 Summit in 2023. This pivotal event saw the launch of the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC), signifying a collective commitment to promoting environmentally friendly waste management, significantly reducing waste generation by 2030 and emphasizing the importance of zero-waste initiatives.
The Modi Government is spearheading the movement to push India towards a circular economy through an environment-friendly, sustainable economic policy framework while taking the country on a high growth rate trajectory. It has notified several rules, including the rules on Plastic Waste Management, e-waste Management, Construction and Demolition waste management, and policy on Metals Recycling to promote a circular economy.
NITI Aayog, a government think-tank, has recommended various initiatives to promote sustainable economic growth. To expedite India's transition from a linear to a circular economy, NITI Aayog has identified 11 focus areas in waste management. The focus areas include 11 end-of-life products, which continue to pose considerable challenges or are emerging as new areas that must be addressed holistically. Concrete steps have been suggested by this body to tackle challenges related to utilizing waste as a resource and to develop a comprehensive policy framework to develop an advanced recycling industry in India.
The principles of the circular economy agenda in municipal solid & liquid waste have received a significant push with the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. The Mission is based on three fundamental principles or the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle). It has achieved remarkable success as India has enhanced its solid waste treatment capacity from 18% in 2014 to over 68%. Significant progress has been made in utilizing fly ash and slag generated in the steel industry and other sectors.
Switching to a circular economy has several advantages and vast potential to increase industry competitiveness, contribute to the GDP, and boost economic growth. By 2050, India's circular economy is projected to reach $2 trillion. It is also expected to create close to 10 million jobs by 2050, stated CII in its 'National Circular Economy Framework' (NCEF).
Transitioning to a circular economy requires macro-economic level planning and bringing various stakeholders on board. The Modi Government's vision is clear: Circular Economy is the need of the hour, and it advocates adopting the 7Rs of the circular economy, encompassing Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Redesign, Remanufacture, Refurbish, and Repair. These principles should guide the design of new ventures, business parks, and industrial clusters. With a stable and supportive policy ecosystem for a circular economy, India has the potential to emerge as a manufacturing powerhouse while fulfilling its commitment to climate change.
