Waste

India's waste management crisis has serious implications for its environment, economy and public health. We focus on creating technologies and solutions that minimize waste generation and convert all waste into useful products. This includes initiatives to promote a circular economy through resource efficient and cleaner production in industries, and maximize resource recovery and recycling for landfill-free cities.

waste

NEW IN WASTE

  • oilzapper
     

    Article

    Refurbishing Plastic for Climate Action: The First Steps

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  • energy access
     

    Article

    Refurbishing Plastic for Climate Action: Finding Value in 'Waste'

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  • micro credit

    Blog

    TERI's Waste NAMA project collaborates with The Goan to spread awareness in Panaji

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  • rural-energy

    Policy Brief

    G20 Circular Carbon Economy: Fostering Circularity in Plastics

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  • plenary landfill

    Blog

    Creating awareness among school children for leveraging the use of treated wastewater in India

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Projects

Articles

Microbeads: A Brewing Environmental Concern

Mr Kaushik Chandrasekhar

The prevalence of microplastics in the environment has become a major global concern. Plastics based on their size are broadly classified as Macro and Microplastics (<5 mm) and enter the environment through various routes.

A link towards integrating informal sector may complete the EPR mechanism

Mr Kaushik Chandrasekhar
,
Dr Suneel Pandey

India generates close to 3.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and CPCB estimates suggest close to 60% of this waste is recycled.

नए प्लास्टिक नियमों के ठोस निष्पादन से हो सकता है कचरा प्रबंधन में सुधार

Mr Kaushik Chandrasekhar

सरकार की इतनी बड़ी मात्रा में जमा हो रहे कचरे से निपटने की प्रतिबद्धता का पता प्लास्टिक अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन नियम 2016 से चलता है जिसमें सरकार ने अगस्त 2021 में तीसरी बार संशोधन किया है। अगस्त 2021 में भारत सरकार द्वारा किए गए संशोधन से यह पता लगता है कि भारत इस मुद्दे का समाधान खोजने के लिए नए-नए प्रयास कर रहा है। हालांकि इस मामले में राजनीतिक सहमति के साथ-साथ नीतिगत हस्तक्षेपों के नतीजे सकारात्मक रहे हैं, लेकिन नीतियों का जमीनी स्तर पर निष्पादन अब भी एक बड़ी चुनौती बना हुआ है।

A Sustainable Development Agenda: Plastic and Biomedical Waste Post COVID-19

In this article, Hans Nicolai Adam, Emmy Noklebye, and Girija K Bharat discuss biomedical and plastic waste management in the post COVID-19 world. The authors focus on the role of the informal sector, which plays a significant role in India's waste management systems, and is assuming a growing role in plastic waste management. Yet, the informal waste management sector remains highly vulnerable, as evidenced by the authors' study.

TERI's Waste NAMA project collaborates with The Goan to spread awareness in Panaji

TERI Web Desk

GIZ India and TERI under the Indo-German project titled 'Development and Management of Waste NAMA (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action) in India' have adopted the city of Panaji for pilot demonstration of better waste management practices.

Events

Webinar on “Achieving Sustainable Waste Management: Circular Economy Approach”

May 24, 2023
to May 24, 2023

24 May 2023 | 14:30 hrs to 16:30 hrs

INOPOL Final Dissemination Event

October 17, 2022
to October 17, 2022

On 17th October 2022 | 10:30 AM - 02:00 PM

Webinar on Plastic Waste Management and impact on Human Health

October 8, 2021
to October 8, 2021

The interactive webinar aims to expand on the issue of plastic waste management and its impact on human health.

On 8 October 2021, 03:00 PM to 4:30 PM IST

Webinar Series on Waste-Derived Nanomaterials: Part-I Industrial Wastes to Nano-commodities: Status, Impact and Future Prospects

October 7, 2021
to October 7, 2021

The webinar aims at highlighting various leads being taken to derive nano-materials from different waste resources via a 'Circular Economy' model.

On 7 October 2021, 02:00 PM to 4:30 PM IST

Webinar on Plastic Pollution amidst COVID-19: Protector or Polluter

July 31, 2020
to July 31, 2020

During COVID-19, the management of single-use plastic (SUP) items remains a challenge in India. TERI is hosting a webinar on plastic waste management and raising public awareness on plastic pollution.

Webinar on 'Waste Management under COVID-19: Challenges and Solutions'

April 29, 2020
to April 29, 2020

COVID-19 outbreak was declared as pandemic and health emergency was announced by the World Health Organisation on March 11, 2020. Research studies also revealed that waste materials like cardboard, plastics and steel also are carriers of COVID-19 virus and it can last upto 72 hours on these, reflecting concerns for waste stream workers and recyclers.

News

PROMISE Sustainability Awards Conferred

May 31, 2023 |
May 31, 2023
Outlook India

The key focus of the conference was sharing of best practices in tackling marine litter across countries of the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India. In the first panel discussion on EPR framework for tackling marine litter which highlighted the EPR framework for plastics and its implementation aspects especially with regard to the MSME sector.

From Assembly to markets, plastics find their way around Delhi ban

April 24, 2023 |
April 24, 2023
The Hindu

Over the past ten months, the Delhi government restricted the use of 19 single-use plastic products and plastic bags under 120 microns in thickness; however, these products are still used openly. Dr Suneel Pandey, Director, Environment and Waste Management Division, TERI, said unchecked manufacturing of plastic items and lax implementation of the ban is responsible for the resurgence of SUP products. Mr. Pandey said one solution could be for the government to hand-hold manufacturers during the transition, accompanied by strict vigilance to ban the manufacturing of such items.

Plastic ban ambit wider but violation rampant in Kolkata

January 2, 2023 |
January 2, 2023
The Telegraph

To shift from making a plastic bag that is 50 microns or less in thickness to making a bag 120-micron thick will need some modification in machinery. Many manufacturers, who work with little capital, find it difficult to make the investment. They are waiting for some handholding from the government, said Dr Suneel Pandey, Director, TERI.

Approaches to Mitigate the Danger of Plastics to Marine Ecosystems

December 30, 2022
| Mr Prahlad Tewari
| Dr Neha
| View Point

Many plastic products are for single use and reach the ecosystem as waste in a short time. Most of it is nonbiodegradable and non-compostable and accumulates in the environmental ecosystem.It is evident that urgent steps are to be taken and enforced to prevent the oceans from turning into a sea of microplastics; they are necessary and essential for life on earth to sustain, writes Dr. Neha, Senior Fellow, TERI.



Many plastic products are for single use and reach the ecosystem as waste in a short time, writes Dr. Neha, Senior Fellow, TERI.

UNCRD-AARC deliberates on redefining multi-layer packaging plastic waste

November 29, 2022 |
November 29, 2022
Asian News International

During the webinar "Redefining Multi-Layer Packaging Plastic Waste (Category III)," organized by UNCRD and AARC, Dr Suneel Pandey, Senior Director, TERI, said that regulation for promoting 3R, circular economy practices can speed up the effort to reduce end-of-life combustion.

Dhapa fumes trigger pain for eyes and lungs

October 13, 2022 |
October 13, 2022
The Telegraph

Fire at Dhapa landfill in Kolkata is self-sustained by methane supply from biodegradable waste. Methane is formed when biodegradable wastes degrade without contact with air as layers of the new waste pile over them. Once the methane gas is formed, it escapes through any fissure it finds, said Dr Sunil Pandey, Director of Environment & Waste Management Division, TERI.

Policy

Plastic Waste Management: Turning Challenges into Opportunities

December 2, 2020

Plastics not only are enduring, lightweight, and available at low prices, but also have very good thermal and electrical insulation properties. The versatile properties of various plastic polymers— being water-resistant, non-porous, ductile and malleable—make them suitable for manufacturing a wide range of products that also bring medical and technological advances in our modern society.

G20 Circular Carbon Economy: Fostering Circularity in Plastics

October 27, 2020

Fostering circularity in plastic use is an effective way to reduce contamination of marine and coastal environments with plastics and man-made debris. However, there are many challenges down this path.

Nutrient pollution in the South Asia Seas (SAS)

December 3, 2019

Anthropogenic activities like (i) agriculture fertilisers, (ii) coastal pisciculture, (i) sewage discharge, (iv) industrial activity, (v) burning fossil fuels and (vi) effluents from ports increase nutrients in surface water and seas. Nitrate pollution is largely caused by agriculture run-off, discharge from industry and manure or sewage. Phosphate pollution is tied to improper treatment of detergents in wastewater and from agro-fertilisers.

Discussion Paper on Faecal Sludge Management in Urban India: Policies, Practices, and Possibilities

December 9, 2016

Urban Sanitation and Need for Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) in India The Government of India has undertaken an ambitious social change endeavour of clean and open defecation free (ODF) India. Sustained efforts in this direction has improved the sanitation scenario in India, which in turn would help in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6 of universal and equitable access to safe and aff ordable drinking water and adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all.

Director, Environment & Waste Management
Area Convenor, Centre for Waste Management
Associate Director, Environment & Waste Management
Associate Fellow and Area Convenor, Environment and Health