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.
महासागर सबसे बड़े डंपिंग ग्राउंड बन रहे हैं जिसमें हर साल एक मिलियन टन प्लास्टिक कूड़ा पहुँच रहा है। महासागरों में मौजूद लगभग 80 फीसदी कूड़ा, प्लास्टिक का कूड़ा है। इससे समुद्री आबादी जोखिम में है। प्लास्टिक कचरे का उचित प्रबंधन कर इसे रोका जा सकता है।
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.
To envision a new world post COVID-19 in the context of urban sanitation and planning and define the priorities for action by the development community.
Large amounts of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated has become an increasing problem in all tourist destinations.
While remediating landfills, waste processing infrastructure needs to be strengthened so that no organic waste reaches the landfill site, said Dr Suneel Pandey, Director of the Environment and Waste Management Division, TERI.
A small portion of the e-waste generated in the city is disposed through organised channels while the majority is sold through unorganised channels where the dismantling of the waste exposes the handlers and others to hazardous elements. According to Dr Suneel Pandey, Director at the Environment and Waste Management Division of TERI, said that many prefer to sell their used electronic devices in local markets, which give a better return for the products.
In April 2021, TERI's roadmap proposed a circular plastic value chain to address the problem of both plastic pollution and greenhouse emissions.
Coprocessing has been marred by many cost issues. Typically, the quality and quantity of municipal waste is not optimal for RDF. So, cement plants need to spend money on pre-processing waste to make it useful. Transportation is also an issue, says Mr Kaushik Chandrasekhar, a solid waste management expert from TERI
Coprocessing has been marred by many cost issues. Typically, the quality and quantity of municipal waste is not optimal for RDF. So, cement plants need to spend money on pre-processing waste to make it useful. Transportation is also an issue, says Mr Kaushik Chandrasekhar, a solid waste management expert from TERI.
Plastic packaging constitutes an estimated 59 percent share in India's total plastic consumption, amounting to about 10 million tonnes every year. Considering a steady growth forecast for the pharmaceuticals, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), and e-commerce sectors, this figure is expected to rise further. India's net plastic consumption is estimated to have increased by around 20 times as compared to 1990. It is expected to see a further upturn with an increase in its demand by approximately 52 percent by 2025.
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.
