Achieving Circular

Economy in Residual
Waste Management

Dr. Snigdha Goel Shri. Avinash Mishra

Young Professional Advisor (Environment and Water Vertical)
NITI Aayog NITI Aayog
 Overview of Global Waste Sector

Globally, total waste generation is

expected to reach 3.4 billion tonnes by
2050—a 69% increase from 2016 with
increase in GDP and population

2.24 billion tons of municipal solid

waste annually, of which only 55 per
cent is managed in controlled facilities.

SWG increases following the economic

advancement of countries from low-
income to high-income as per a World
Bank report
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 Overview of Indian Waste Sector
Due to the massive population, the total
waste generated in India is more than
168,403.24 TPD, because of which India ranks
seventh globally in SWG

Present rate of SWG in India is 0.34 kg per

capita per day, which is expected to reach up
to 0.7 kg per day by 2025

Annual greenhouse gas emissions from MSW

are expected to go up to 41.09 million tonnes
by 2030.

India will generate 165 million tonnes of

waste by 2030 and 436 million tonnes by
2050. https://mohua.gov.in/pdf/627b8318adf18Circular-
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Economy-in-waste-management-FINAL.pdf
Inappropriate waste disposal

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 Residual waste

 Waste that is neither recycled nor reused, i.e. waste

material not collected separately for recycling or
composting /digestion, and residues from sorting
processes.

 Nonhazardous industrial waste including waste material

(solid, liquid or gas) produced by industrial, mining and
agricultural operations. It excludes certain coal mining
wastes and wastes from normal farming activities

 Materials that are difficult to be recycled either due to

technological limitations, costs, natural resources, and
human resources.

Examples
contaminated soil, ceramics, gypsum board, linoleum, leather, rubber, textiles, glass, industrial
equipment, electronics, storage tanks, filters, fertilizers, pesticides, pharmaceutical waste,
detergents and cleaners, photographic film and paper; and residues such as sludge from the
treatment of public water supplies
 What is happening in other countries ?

EU has set two targets for

municipal waste targeted EPA published Scotland has placed
at 2030: the National a ban on the
• At least 60% of MW
should be reused or
Recycling disposal of
recycled (Waste Strategy Nov, 2021 biodegradable
Framework Directive) and reaffirmed the municipal waste to
• Residual (non-recycled) goal to increase the
MW should be reduced landfill, which is
by half (circular U.S. recycling rate to expected to be
economy action plan 50 percent by 2030. implemented in
and zero pollution action
plan) December 2025.
 What are India’s targets ?

• Swacch Bharat
Despite having a Mission, 2014 • Hazardous and
population greater • Waste Management Other Wastes
Rules, 2016 (Management and
than United States, • Bio-Medical Waste Transboundary
India is in process of Management Rules,
Movement) Rules,
notifying targets for • E-Waste
Management Rules
2016
solid and residual • Construction and • Plastic Waste
waste management Demolition Waste Management Rules
Management Rules, Amendment 2022
2016
 Residual waste - Challenges

• Environmental threats
Incinerated
• Destroy resources
Difficult
Entail the extraction of new
to •

process materials

Landfilled • Stalling the circularity of

material flows

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 Residual waste dumping in India- a glimpse

Crude dumping of waste occupies ~1250 hectares of precious land in India each year.

There are 2120 existing dumpsites (CPCB annual report 2016-17)

Landfills were originally located outside of the cities, but as cities expanded, dumpsites
are now almost inside the cities.

Delhi’s open dumps at Ghazipur (69 metres high), Okhla (55 metres high) and Bhalswa (56 metres
high), have resulted in garbage dumps of 13 MMT, 7 MMT and 6 MMT respectively.

Estimated that more than 10,000 hectares of urban land is locked in these dumpsites in
India.
 Waste management and SDG linkages
SDG- National Indicator Framework 2022 Global SDG Indicators
(India) Target
Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact Indicator 11.6.1: Proportion of municipal solid waste collected
of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste
and other waste management generated, by cities

Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of Indicator 12.4.1: Number of parties to international multilateral
chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other
agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in
air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement
health and the environment
Indicator 12.4.2: (a) Hazardous waste generated per capita; and
(b) proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment

Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through Indicator 12.5.1: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled
prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

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Development model based on the CIRCULAR ECONOMY
approach that looks at sustainable waste management and
optimum utilization of resources

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 Circular economy
Circular economy-based Material consumption at the urban
development approach is level alone is expected to climb from
one of the key strategies
being adopted for 40 billion tonnes in 2010 to 90 billion
achieving the 2030 Agenda tonnes in 2050, with the primary
for Sustainable
Development Goals driver being the demand for
(SDGs). construction materials.[12]

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 Value Realization Potential from Circularity

Source-Accenture 2019 13
 Revenue Generation in Circular Economy

Compost and Bio-CNG Treated sludge and wastewater

365 crores and `1,679 crores 6,570 crores and 3285

per annum respectively crores respectively

C&D Dry recycling

`416 crores per annum
11,836 crores per annum

https://mohua.gov.in/pdf/627b8318adf18Circular-Economy-in-waste-management-FINAL.pdf
 Focus areas in residual wastes
Municipal solid
waste (Dry and Biomedical waste Hazardous waste
wet)

C&D waste E-waste Plastic waste

Municipal Municipal sewage End-of-life vehicles

wastewater sludge
Municipal Waste – Dry waste

India SWG
Approximately 1.45 Lakh metric
tons of solid waste, 35% of which is
dry waste

Increase in SWG

85 kg of CO2 per tonne of solid

waste disposed in 1954-60 to 227 kg
of CO2 per tonne disposed in 2005-
2015)

GHG emissions
GHG
GHG emissions
emissions per ton
per ofof
ton solid waste
solid
disposed have increased
waste disposed by 2.7 times.
have increased by
The
2.7waste
times.sector accounts
The waste sectorfor 3.7% of
India’s totalfor
accounts national
3.7% ofGHG emissions.
India’s total
national level GHG emissions.
 Business models for circular economy

Savings from circular economy are estimated at US$ 624 billion in year
2050, for the current development trend (KPMG study)
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Digitalization in waste management

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 Plastic Pollution
Forecast
Approximately 3.4 million tons per annum of plastic POVERTY
waste was
generated in India in 2019-20 while the per capita waste
generation from 2016 to 2020 almost doubled

If plastic production and use grows as currently planned, by

2030, the GHG emissions could reach 1.34 gigatons per year,
equivalent to 295 new 500-megawatt coalfired power plants.

Out of 8 million tonnes of plastic waste in the

world’s oceans, Meghna-Brahmaputra-Ganges
river system dumps close to 73 thousand ton
making it the 6th most polluting river system
Global annual plastic production in million tonnes
contributing to marine plastic waste in the
world.

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Source: Plastic Atlas 2019

Circular economy – Plastic waste

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 Plastic Pollution
POVERTY
Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021 prohibited manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of
plastic carry bags having thickness less than 120 microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022.

Single Use Plastics such as Ear buds with plastic sticks, Plastic sticks for balloons, Plastic bags, Candy sticks, Ice - cream
sticks, Polystyrene (Thermocol) for decoration, Plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw,
trays and wrapping or packing films, were banned completely from 1st July 2022 onwards

Currently, NITI Aayog along with several industries, academia and ministries is engaged in testing of biodegradable plastics
and developing associated standards.

Several innovative technologies for disposal of Plastic Waste are

• Utilization of Plastic Waste in Road Construction
• Co processing of Plastic Waste in Cement Kilns
• Conversion of Plastic Waste into Fuel oil: Refused derived Fuel (RDF)
• Disposal of plastic waste through Plasma Pyrolysis Technology (PPT)

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Municipal Waste – Dry waste
About 75,000 TPD of wet waste generated
daily. Under SBM (U), about 68% is being
processed, leaving a gap of 32%.

Projections for SBM (U) 2.0 indicate a

requirement of 45,000 TPD processing facilities
for wet waste, out of which the compost plants
are planned for 30,800 TPD and bio-
methanation plants for 15,200 TPD

• Inadequate infrastructure to transport

segregated wet waste to processing
facilities
• Non-Compliance of SWM Rules 2016 by
bulk waste generators
• Data on waste generation in terms of
composition and quantities is still lacking
• Production of compost from mixed waste
leads to quality challenges in final product.
Circular Economy: Wet Waste Management
 Circular Economy: Wet Waste Management
Benefits of circular economy model in wet waste processing through bio-methanation

• Net additional contribution to economy of ₹2,460

crores per annum if 50% wet waste is processed by bio-
methanation

• Employment generation of about 1 crore man-days

during construction and about 0.60 crore man-days for
O&M, in perpetuity.

• Reduction in GHG emissions by about 10.36 million

tonnes CO2 equivalent
 Policy Interventions – Wet Waste
Market Development Assistance of `1,500 per tonne compost by M/o Chemicals
Compost & Fertilizers

Waste to
Energy
Financial Assistance as follows:
Biogas
capital subsidy of `1 crore per 12000m3 biogas/day [up to Rs.10 crore/project]

Power projects
subsidy of `3 crore per MW [up to `10 crore/project]

Bio-CNG subsidy of `4 crore for 4800kgs/day of CBG generated per day [up to `10
crore/project].
Existing biogas
units switching to subsidy of `3 crore.
CBG
 Legacy Waste Management

Major Challenge for ULBs

Dealing with legacy of neglect which has

resulted in garbage heaps built up at
dumpsites.

Objective of Legacy Waste

Management
Sanitary landfills are the ultimate means
To reduce environmental and social of disposal for unutilised municipal solid
externalities through leachate discharges, waste from waste processing facilities
gaseous emissions, loss of visual amenity, foul and other types of inorganic waste that
odours, and harbouring of disease-carrying cannot be reused or recycled
pests.
 Initiatives : Legacy Waste Management

Swachh Survekshan 2020

• As part of Swachh Survekshan 2020, the emphasis is laid on remediation of legacy waste
dumpsites and scientific sanitary land fill.
• A total weightage of 110/700 (i.e 16%) is earmarked for remediation of dumpsites and
scientific disposal of waste.
• Under Swachh Survekshan 2019, 345 Legacy Waste dumpsites have been remediated.

Star Rating Protocol for Garbage Free Cities

For a city to achieve at least 3 star rating:
• 60% of the mandatory components are to be achieved(which include scientific disposal of different streams
of waste e.g. dry waste processing, wet waste processing etc. 34% weightage )
• At least 50% of the essential components are to be achieved ( which include Scientific Land fill, availability,
Use and disposal 20% weightage) and
• A minimum of 30% of desired components are to be achieved(which includes dumpsite remediation 20%
weighatge).
• In view of the above, the Ministry has given utmost importance to ensure remediation of dumpsites and
encouraging scientific processing of waste streams, thus resulting in Zero Land Fill.
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Waste Water Management

● Urban India generates 72,368 MLD of

municipal sewage estimated to
increase to 1,20,000 MLD by 2050.

Benefits

● Recycled wastewater: additional

source of water
● Source of revenue for utilities
● Economic and environmental benefits
● Incentives for ULBs to strengthen
● Sewerage and treatment
infrastructure
● Social benefits
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Circular economy: Waste water management

To bring circularity in
wastewater management, NITI
Aayog has taken steps
towards:
● Framework for reuse of
treated wastewater in
Sector wise wastewater to be reused
(in Mcum/year) irrigation
20000 17519

15000
● Development of standards
10000 8759
for water neutrality in
5000
4380
1860
2790
3875 industries
3500.34 3941.01 4161.69
0
2026 2036 2050
Agriculture Thermal Plants Other sectors Construction
 C&D waste

Approximately 95% of C&D waste can

be reused or recycled if processed
scientifically.
Design for reuse (DfR)-
Adaptive reuse- It is a
It incorporates the use
method that reuses
of reclaimed
whole or part of a
components in the
structure that is
design of new
redundant.
structures.

Design for longevity

Design for (DfL)- It is a principle that
Circular economy beings opportunities deconstruction (DfD)- current buildings in
It is a designing planning phase should be
for innovations in cutting down on raw method that enables planned for long-term
materials and reducing residual and quality and quantity of use. The construction
material should be of top
materials that can be
waste matter, quality improvement re-used at the end of a quality which could
building’s life enhance the life of the
and cost reduction throughout the building.
lifecycle of structure and its various
components.
 C&D waste
• Design and construct for
recycling and reuse
Approaches Construction • Reduce use of virgin materials
for circularity approach • Reduction in the overall waste
generation
• Integration of a demolition plan

• Decentralized cluster based

Waste approach for recycling waste
management
approach • Data collection through ICT
technology

• Mandate use of certain % of recycled

waste
Legislative • Reduce GST on recycled materials
approach
• Setting green building standards

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 Other NITI Aayog initiatives
• NITI Aayog has formulated the Model Concession Agreements (MCAs) and Model Request for Proposals
documents (RFPs) for Integrated Solid Waste Management (including BioRemediation of Legacy Waste)
and Integrated Liquid Waste Management (including Faecal Sludge Management) on Hybrid Annuity Model
(HAM) of Public-Private Partnership (PPP). Hon'ble NGT has ordered all the states and ULBs to adopt this
model concession agreement framed by NITI Aayog

• NITI undertook mainstreaming of approaches and measures for building resource efficient and circular
Indian Economy in line with the SDGs

• NITI Aayog and EU unveiled Status Paper and Way Forward on Resource Efficiency & Circular Economy”
and “Four Sectoral Strategy Papers on Resource Efficiency on Steel, Aluminium, Construction &
Demolition Waste, Secondary Materials Management in Electrical & Electronics Sector”.

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https://www.eeas.europa.eu/node/57035_en https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1561008
 NITI Aayog initiatives

The status paper on Resource Efficiency & Circular Economy brings out 30 recommendations
out of which 14 recommendations have identified as priority actions.
a. Formulation of a National Policy on RE/CE
b. Establishment of Bureau of Resource Efficiency (BRE),
c. Mainstreaming RE&CE in existing flagship missions,
d. A Modern Recycling Industry with level playing between primary and secondary producers,
e. R&D for development of scalable technologies for RE & CE, and
f. Development and promotion of skill and capacity building programmes for informal sector.

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/node/57035_en https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=15610
08 33
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 Way Forward
Better data will give better information on waste generation which will lead the policy makers to
take decisions on RRRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover).

Replace with other materials that are easier to decompose in nature- sustainable products
initiative

Improving the recycling process so that it does not accumulate and cause pollution in nature
– EPR initiatives

stimulate recycling through the implementation of the waste directives.

strong waste prevention policies targeting municipal waste increasing waste prevention

Waste to energy initiatives (exploring newer avenues)

Right to repair initiative

 Govt Initiatives

• Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission, which aims to provide access to solid and
liquid waste management treatment to all villages, cities, and states.
• ‘Waste to Wealth’ initiative - working to identify, develop, and deploy
technologies to treat waste to recycle materials, generate energy, and extract
resources of value.
• As initiated by CPCB, an MIS portal for fetching the information from grassroot
level will help to aggregate the information at any level and also to answer
questions like who generate, what type and what treatment is being given.

https://cpcb.nic.in/uploads 36
THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH
TRASH IS TO NOT HAVE ANY!