“While scientific and technological solutions are available, people have come together in a dramatic way during the pandemic, and in a similar fashion fundamentally, there is a need to change the attitude towards our environment to deal with waste in our country,” stated Prof K. Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) Government at  the International Conference and Exhibition on Waste to Worth, organised in association with Technology Development Board, Ministry of Science and Technology, GoI and The Czech Republic as a Partner Country

Prof Raghavan congratulated the winners of the CII 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Awards. He mentioned some of the incredible work done by them in setting standards and exemplars on how to deal with waste.

In most parts of the  world and, in particular, in India, we are habituated to degradation of our environment and the waste that surrounds us. A wake-up call for the common purpose would help in tackling this at a micro, meso and macro scale and in the next 2-5 years would see some extraordinary solutions.

Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Secretary, Technology Development Board, Government of India stated that while waste generation of both solid and liquid waste is growing very fast,  50-55 projects are already being run across the country with the help of various  government departments under the guidance of Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and 23 areas have been identified by TDB  where technology solutions, construction demonstration and key level interventions would be taken up. He also mentioned that TDB welcomes start-ups and SME to come forward for technology commercialisation and seek support.

Ms. Martina Tauberová Deputy Minister, EU Affairs and Foreign Trade Ministry of Industry and Trade the Czech Republic said that Czech engineers have helped Indian Industry build an industrial base, and more than 100 companies have been formed with Czech participation. India is one of the most important trade partners in Asia. The Czech Framework on Circular Economy is expected to be adopted in early 2021 to define the national priorities and goals in this field. Czech Government recognises the need for waste and has developed a sound waste management framework which includes the waste management plan and the prevention programme.

Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, Grand Jury, CII 3R Awards, Chairman, Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission and Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission impressed upon Industry, Government and the whole ecosystem to join hands in making “waste to worth” a reality and a way of life.

Mr P Paliannapan, Chairman, CII Task Force on Waste to Worth CEO, and Mahindra Waste to Energy Solutions Ltd , acknowledged the contribution of Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate change for populating appropriate waste management rules and encouraging citizens for segregating of the waste at  source, since this has considerably helped in management of waste to maintain the public health and environment of India. While we have a long way to go, the “Swachh Bharat Mission” by the government has effectively implemented waste management practices, enhanced quality of life and most of all created new jobs and new products.

Mr. Hrishit Shroff, Vice-Chair, CII Task Force on Waste to Worth and Executive Director, Excel Industries Ltd, while talking about  the work  being  done by the CII task force, mentioned that  it is encouraging more Industries to come forward implement waste management practices and reduce, reuse and recycle.

Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, highlighted the CII’s initiatives towards encouraging industry for the adoption of innovative technologies and best practices in waste management and bringing in all players like technology providers, investors, waste management companies both national and international together to build a Clean India in a sustainable manner with the concept of 3R for managing waste effectively across the country.

The conference recognised 8 outstanding Indian companies with CII 3R Awards. The Awards are designed to recognise the efforts of companies which have set benchmarks in three areas: 1) managing waste generated by the industry due to their own activities; 2) creating mechanisms or products to ensure minimal waste at the user end; and 3) managing solid waste and other urban waste across the cities and towns of India. The winners of each categories are:

The 1ST winner under the category of Excellence in 3R For Industry (Managing Own Waste) is Tata Steel and the 2nd winner is Mahindra Accelo

The winner under the category of Excellence in Design, Innovation and Developing Product Generating Zero Waste at User End is Praj Industries

Under the category of Excellence in Managing Municipal Solid Waste, the 1ST winner is ZIGMA and 2nd winner is Saahas Zero Waste

The 1ST winner under the category of Excellence in Managing Plastic Waste is Nepra and 2nd winner is Sarthak

The last category is Excellence in Managing E-Waste and the winner is Exigo Recycling

30 October

New Delhi