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.
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.
India generates close to 3.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and CPCB estimates suggest close to 60% of this waste is recycled.
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।
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.
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.
24 May 2023 | 14:30 hrs to 16:30 hrs
On 17th October 2022 | 10:30 AM - 02:00 PM
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
