Whole world is adopting newer, innovative, cost-effective approaches and solutions to address the growing menace of Waste. It is important for a country like India, where the population is very large and waste management practices are not yet fully adhered adopts innovative and scientific management of waste that is socially, environmentally and commercially sustainable.
Many innovations and solutions are available and to some extent practised in many parts of the country by industries, start-ups, research institutes and ULBs to manage Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). However, large scale implementation of solutions is yet to be seen.
Similarly, Indian industry have adopted and practised processes and solutions to encourage Reducing, Reducing and Recycling of plastic & packaging waste, e-waste and waste generated in industrial activities or waste generated from their own activities. Most of the industry follows stipulated guidelines of waste management through sanitary landfills and other processes. However, there are industry primarily MSMEs are yet to fully adapt such practices.
Industry is also conscious about the fact of waste generated by the consumers/users while consuming/using their products. Industry is in constant process of designing their products those will increasingly use non-polluting materials and will generate minimum waste at the users end. However, Industry’s efforts in designing their products including its packaging are still not adequate.
It is important to capture and disseminate the best practices for others to follow and at the same time to recognise and reward the industry, start-ups, research institutes and ULBs who have setup benchmarks in (1) managing waste generated in by industry from their own activities (2) designing, developing products those will generate minimal waste at the user’s end, (3) managing Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), (4) managing plastic & packaging and e-waste and (5) Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Waste management.
With this background, CII under its waste to worth initiative, this year has announced 4th edition of 3R (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle) Awards to recognise and reward best practices of industry, start-ups, research institutes and ULBs in order to set a benchmark of excellence in waste management for large number of industries to thrive to adopt these best practices.