Waste Has Potential to Create Next Band of Millionaires and Generating Jobs: CII

At a time when the challenges of solid waste management in land-scarce urban areas in West Bengal, including Kolkata, are mounting, the State Government is gravely concerned about the single use of plastic bags and bottles, and the tonnes of wastes generated at construction and demolition sites.

“In a densely populated state like West Bengal, the problem assumes greater dimension,” said Mr. Arnab Roy, Principal Secretary, Department of Environment, at the ‘Conference on Sustainable Waste Management’ organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with the Department of Environment in Kolkata.

“In order to arrest single use of plastic bags, which constitute 50% of plastic wastes, we need cooperation from all,” Mr. Roy said, adding that the Government is extremely serious about converting wastes into wealth and a potent means to generate jobs. “The Government is also keen that all stakeholders – the Government, industry and private citizens – come together to evolve a robust waste management mechanism.”

According to him, challenges of solid wastes are no longer limited to urban areas. “The rural panchayat areas are also becoming relevant in the scheme of things,” he said, adding that a lot of good ventures can be built. “Make value out of waste, increase efficiency of collection, recycling and processing, and make public-private handshaking. The situation is win-win for all, and the economy will also get a boost.”

Significant job creation potential

Mr. Chitranjan Dar, Chairman, Sustainability Sub-committee, & Group Head – CPO, LSTC, EHS and Quality Assurance, ITC Ltd., said the business of waste has the potential of producing the next band of millionaires and generating jobs. “There is absolutely no reason to look at wastes as a source of eyesores. It is actually a hidden treasure to make wealth,” he said, adding that finding new sources of income generation is an imperative.

Mr. Dar also underscored the importance of a circular economy, which, unlike a linear economy, ensures that whatever we produce and consume do not degenerate into irretrievable wastes, but come back as products or items of valuable use. Mr. Dar cited a The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) finding, which said that while dumping 10,000-tonnes of waste in a landfill can create as many as six jobs, recycling the same amount of waste would create 36 jobs. “Business of waste is all about how we collect and re-cycle,” Mr. Dar said.