The Swachh Bharat campaign has made tremendous strides but India’s solid waste crisis persists with burning landfills and choked streams. To address this, Sundaram Climate Institute launched a ground-breaking report, “Solving India’s Solid Waste Crisis: Lessons from Madurai”, based on over 2000 household interviews and expert insights.

Managing waste is one of the most impactful steps we can take

Mridula Ramesh

Founder

Sundaram Climate Institute

What I’d like to share is what I have learned over the past ten years. The first point is that waste can be thought of as your shadow; just as you can’t separate your shadow from your body, you can’t separate waste from the way we live. One key observation is that we are incredibly wasteful. Every day, humans generate the equivalent of about 1.3 million elephants in waste. Imagine 1.3 million elephants heading towards a landfill, being burned, or flowing into the nearest stream. This gives you an idea of the scale of waste we generate. In India, the commonly cited figure is around 150,000 tons of waste per day. This number is highly uncertain, as we weigh waste in our homes, but I doubt many people do the same. Studies suggest the actual number could be twice this amount.

A significant portion of this waste is incinerated, and that’s crucial to remember. Look around you—there’s plastic everywhere, and it’s not disappearing anytime soon. What shocked me is that if we take the total amount of plastic produced since 1950 and convert it into elephants, they could circle the sun—not just the Earth—twice. Much of this plastic has ended up in our streams and oceans, or has been burned. India generates about 20,000 small cars’ worth of plastic waste every day. The waste itself isn’t the main issue; even before the advent of plastic, we generated waste. In the past, we would compost and reuse it in our fields. The real problem is that 40% of waste is unmanaged. Developed countries often send their recyclable materials to developing countries like ours for processing.

Managing waste is costly—$252 billion globally. It’s easy to blame the government, but municipalities in India often lack funding compared to their counterparts elsewhere, resulting in inadequate infrastructure for waste management. Consequently, waste ends up in oceans and landfills, with landfills across India bursting into flames every summer.

Startling Revelations from the Madurai Study 

Over the past six years, our team has spoken to 2,389 people in the byelanes of Madurai, who shared their experiences regarding waste and water. Their stories form the basis of our findings and report.

The municipal corporation collects waste from many households, but ‘most’ is a troubling word. When waste isn’t collected, people often resort to burning it. Why do people burn their waste repeatedly? At some level, there’s a belief that fire will purify everything.

In our survey, we asked, “Does waste bother you?” Surprisingly, a third of respondents said, “No.” This was a significant revelation for us. While education has some influence, even people with no formal education often felt that waste didn’t bother them. This attitude was consistent across different years, income groups, genders, and neighbourhoods. Many felt, “My house is clean. Why should I care?”

In India, 2.18 million people die prematurely due to air pollution, often blaming vehicles. However, burning waste is a major source of particulate matter pollution. When we asked if waste burning bothered them, many had no comment, and 11% deemed it a necessity, believing that if no one collects it, burning it helps reduce mosquito populations. The chemicals released from burning waste are the same as those released during the Vietnam War; the U.S. government deemed them so dangerous that they transported them to a remote island near Hawaii. Yet today, we release these chemicals in every corner of India as we burn waste. Once created, these chemicals persist for years, accumulating in our bodies.

Waste and GHG Emissions

Currently, the focus of climate action is on solar panels, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. However, managing solid waste is a vital way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A study by WRI found that 11% of greenhouse gas emissions in Bengaluru come from solid waste, making it a significant issue—perhaps even more critical than electric vehicles. Chennai is no stranger to flooding, which is worsened by solid waste blocking drainage channels. Effective waste management could reduce the prevalence of diseases like dengue and other epidemics.

Of those who claimed that waste didn’t bother them, 60% had experienced issues caused by solid waste, yet they failed to make the connection. It’s a classic case of ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ Many people think, “My house is clean; the waste is gone,” but that’s misleading. Fortunately, there are startups and NGOs working on solutions. We can effectively manage waste at every step, from collection to separating wet and dry waste to processing cooking oil.

I come from the textile industry. From 100 kilos of cotton, we obtain 71 kilos of yarn, leaving 29 kilos as waste. We reuse and sell that waste, which is where our profit comes from—jeans and various textile products are made from it. If collected properly, this waste can be utilised effectively.

When we asked people about their role in managing solid waste, 50% said they didn’t know. Most claimed to understand segregation, but only 20% of those who claimed to know received training on why segregation is important. When we asked, “What is your role in waste management?” only 20 out of 2,389 respondents—1%—identified segregation as their responsibility. If we fail to segregate, many potential solutions disappear, leaving us with landfills and burning.

Most waste is either dumped or burned, and any recycling that occurs often relies on waste pickers. My main point is that waste needs to be recognised as a pressing issue. For effective climate action, managing waste is one of the most impactful steps we can take, both for mitigation by reducing carbon emissions and for adaptation. If we stop burning waste and manage it properly, we could create one to two million new jobs across the country. This is significant! We can develop more sustainable cities, reduce stress on agriculture, and lessen flooding. If there’s one action you can take for your health, the health of the planet, and a more equitable society, please manage your waste, invest in its management, and recognise your role in the process.

Viewing the waste economy as smart, sustainable material management

Dr. Prasad Modak

Managing Director

Environmental Management Centre Pvt. Ltd.,

It’s interesting to consider the relationship between waste and economy. I feel somewhat qualified to speak on this topic for a couple of reasons. First, I was engaged several years ago to prepare what is known as a Global Waste Management Outlook, which allowed me to observe waste management practices around the world. I later contributed to the Asia Waste Management Outlook. Both studies were commissioned by the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) and the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) in Osaka. Additionally, I published a book on the circular economy, further exploring global practices in this area.

The first thing we must understand is that waste is created by humans, not by nature. This distinction is crucial for understanding the dynamics of waste. Dry waste, in particular, reflects our consumptive lifestyles. To manage waste effectively, we need to adopt a life cycle perspective. We should prioritize refusing, reducing, reusing, and recycling throughout our production, distribution, and consumption processes.

Defining Circular Economy

 There are over 200 definitions of the circular economy. For instance, the European Union provides one definition, while the Ellen MacArthur Foundation offers a think tank perspective. Additionally, there is a legal definition from China, where circularity is embedded in law. Simply put, circularity can be represented in four concentric circles:

1. The innermost circle focuses on reducing the consumption of virgin resources through refusing, reducing, and reusing.
2. The next circle emphasizes extending product life through repair, refurbishment, and renovation.
3. The third circle involves adding value by leveraging technology and creating green jobs.
4. The outermost circle represents transformative innovation, where a complete rethinking of practices occurs.

It’s important to note that the term ‘circular economy’ is often mixed with ‘recycling’ at the project level. Circularity is not synonymous with recycling. Innovation should aim to address challenges that seem insurmountable. Recycling often becomes the focal point for innovation in the waste economy. However, is it always a good idea?

For example, I’ve seen many entrepreneurs creating toys from recycled plastic. We must remember that this plastic may contain flame retardants, which can leach into these toys. The economic feasibility of removing these harmful substances makes such recycling problematic. Moreover, the materials often used in construction—while debated—may not be sustainable solutions in the long run. Responsible recycling is essential, and we need clear recycling standards. We have repeatedly emphasised to the government of India the necessity for these standards, but progress has been slow. Other countries, such as Thailand, have made significant advancements in establishing recycling standards.

Using AI: The US Way

Can we think differently? We should design products to be easier to repair, disassemble, and recycle. This upstream approach is where I see a need for innovation, which is currently lacking. There’s an ongoing debate about whether we should segregate wet and dry waste. Some argue that people will never segregate correctly, advocating for the use of AI and robotics to automate this process.

For example, seven major cities in the United States have moved away from manual segregation, relying instead on robotics that achieve 99% accuracy in separating waste without the need for multiple bins. This approach could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I’m not claiming this is the definitive answer, but it’s a conversation worth exploring.

Logistics play a vital role in waste management. It’s best handled at the decentralised level, not only for cost-effectiveness but also to engage communities. When examining recycling economics, factors like collection, sorting, transportation, cleaning, conversion, and market identification all come into play. Applying critical thought to each step reveals that recycling economics can be quite complex.

We often use the term ‘geek littering,’ which I define as the art of responsible discarding, distinct from littering. For instance, when we recycle textiles, we reclaim fibres for reprocessing. Responsible behaviour in waste management matters significantly; the choices we make about discarding waste can lead to upcycling.

There’s a profound concept known as the psychology of pollution. Studies have shown that people living in neighbourhoods with extensive littering and waste mismanagement often experience a decline in moral values. Research on this topic has been piloted on a large scale in Delhi, revealing that proximity to dump sites can erode morality.

Optimal Recycling

A common question arises: is there a socially optimal recycling rate? Research by a group of Japanese scholars suggests that exceeding a recycling rate of 10% to 12% may not be beneficial. While this figure isn’t definitive, the inquiry itself is essential. In India, recycling rates are not officially published, but global comparisons reveal dismal statistics. Some countries have achieved high recycling rates, and we need similar studies in India to understand our own rates better. Much of the recycling in India is handled by the informal sector, making it difficult to gather accurate data. Nevertheless, we must question and assess our recycling practices, especially as the Asia-Pacific waste recycling market is booming. However, we must also ensure that health and safety standards are upheld for informal workers in this expanding market.

Therefore, we need to consume less, extend product lifecycles, and prioritise repair and refurbishment. Investments in startups focussed on these areas are crucial. In states like Bihar and West Bengal, there’s a booming market for mobile phone repair and product longevity. This is a promising entrepreneurial opportunity, but we still need more players in this space.

We must expand the definition of recycling to include remanufacturing, which is critical for fostering innovation. Remanufacturing is not yet formally established in India. There are successful examples in the European Union and the United States, and despite my efforts with NITI Aayog over the past five years, we have yet to establish a remanufacturing council in India. This could be a fountain of innovation and a significant investment opportunity. The concept of remanufacturing aligns closely with the lifecycle flow of materials, enabling us to reintegrate waste products into second, third, and even fourth life cycles. We strongly advocate for the establishment of an Indian Remanufacturing Council, which could address many issues we’ve discussed, while also presenting significant opportunities for job creation and skills development.

In conclusion, I want to reiterate four important principles often associated with the circular economy as a framework for material management:

1. Keep materials in use for as long as possible.
2. Encourage cascading material flows between sectors.
3. Focus on preventing contamination of materials from the outset.
4. Phase out harmful chemicals.

We have recommended to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers the phasing out of ten specific chemicals.  We must adopt a comprehensive approach, viewing the waste economy as smart and sustainable material management.

Ultimately, this should lead to a truly inclusive circular economy. It is not merely about technology, innovation, finance, policies, and laws; it should be a movement driven by people. Such transformation must be a collective responsibility, emphasising the need to enhance sustainability literacy. Everyone must understand that it is our shared duty to foster a more sustainable future.

Need for production limits, pricing, and usage strategies for plastics

Lakshmi Narayanan

Chancellor Chairperson

KREA University

The issue of waste management is not new; it has been a persistent challenge for many years. Thoughtful solutions around reuse, recycling, and repurposing have been proposed, but the real challenge lies in implementing these solutions at scale in a country as large as ours.

Take Indore, for instance. With its 78 wards, waste segregation there is nearly 100%, and door-to-door collection is fully achieved. Indore has consistently been rated the cleanest city in India—a remarkable example. But why is there only one Indore in the country?

Let’s consider Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. This city has tackled plastic waste management effectively, collaborating with the municipal corporation and local industries. They successfully segregate plastic waste and supply it to the two major cement companies—Dalmia Cement and Ultratech Cement. These companies process this clean, segregated plastic waste as fuel in their plants, thus saving costs and repurposing plastic responsibly. Of course, there are transportation costs and expenses associated with controlled incineration, but this example illustrates the potential for effective plastic waste management. This model has already been implemented in 11 other locations, yet we rarely hear about them. It’s our responsibility to scale these successful initiatives by engaging all stakeholders.

We cannot function in today’s world without plastics. While we can thoughtfully replace plastics in certain applications—glass is a notable alternative—plastic production will likely remain high due to its reliance on fossil fuels. As long as crude oil and other fossil fuels are used extensively, we will face challenges in managing plastic waste. If consumption of fossil fuels decreases significantly, we might see a reduction in plastic production. However, if the prices of crude oil drop, it may become economically viable to continue producing plastics at current levels. Policymakers must carefully consider production limits, pricing, and usage strategies for plastics.

There is a belief that transitioning to alternative energy sources will lead to a decrease in plastic production, but this remains unverified. Studies clearly link plastic production to climate change, highlighting its impact at every stage—production, usage, and recycling. It’s been quantified that plastic production could account for nearly one-third of the global carbon budget, emitting four times more greenhouse gases than the airline industry. Therefore, reducing plastic usage is crucial for environmental conservation and mitigating climate change.

One final point I’d like to emphasize is the need for power in effective waste management. We require electricity for compacting waste and operating sewage treatment plants. In Chennai, for instance, many sewage treatment plants are non-functional due to intermittent power supply. As our per capita and industrial power requirements increase, nuclear energy presents a clean and safe solution. It is also one of my favourites. It is making a significant comeback and could play a vital role in addressing climate change.

To summarise:

1. We must prioritise power generation using non-fossil fuels.
2. Reduce plastic production and seek alternatives.
3. The hospitality industry is increasingly replacing PET bottles with glass, and the healthcare sector is actively looking to substitute plastic items while managing waste effectively.

Finally, we as individuals must take responsibility for cleaning our environment.