Indian waste management companies creating circular economies

The Indian waste management industry is projected to grow to $13.62 billion next year. But the country still discards 3.3 million metric tons of plastic and 500 million tons of agricultural dross annually while also wasting 40 percent of its food.

Indian businesses, however, are tackling these problems, according to an August 5 post in India Corporate Sustainably and Responsibility, or India CSR, a media platform based in Raigarh in the state of Chhattisgarh.

Reliance Industries Limited, for example, one of India’s largest conglomerates, has launched the Recron GreenGold initiative to recycle plastic waste into high-quality polyester fiber for clothing, home furnishing, car interiors, bottles, and other uses, for example. The Mumbai-based company is also partnering with local governments, NGOs, and waste collectors to advance sustainable practices.

Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited, or REEL, has developed more efficient ways to burn waste, too. Rather than burning agricultural waste, for example, the company has built several waste-to-energy plants across the country. REEL’s power plant in Jawaharnagar, Hyderabad in the state of Telangana, for instance, receives more than 1,200 tons of municipal solid waste daily, generating 19.8 megawatts of electricity.

“This reduces greenhouse gas emissions and also decreases India’s reliance on fossil fuels, a win-win for the circular economy,” wrote India CSR.

The platform also noted that more Indian companies are supporting food banks and soup kitchens to use food that often goes to waste, particularly expired food. At the same time, these and other companies are also supporting research to extend the shelf life of food. ce/jd