Waste

India's waste management crisis has serious implications for its environment, economy and public health. We focus on creating technologies and solutions that minimize waste generation and convert all waste into useful products. This includes initiatives to promote a circular economy through resource efficient and cleaner production in industries, and maximize resource recovery and recycling for landfill-free cities.

waste

NEW IN WASTE

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    Policy Brief

    Maximising Resource Efficiency and Circularity in the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Value Chain and the E-Waste Sector

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  • energy access

     

    Article

    Refurbishing Plastic for Climate Action: Finding Value in 'Waste'

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  • micro credit

    Event

    WasteMAP Workshop on 'Key Strategies for Organic Waste Management'

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  • rural-energy

    Policy Brief

    Internationalizing Lifestyles For Environment: Messages For G20

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  • plenary landfill

    Blog

    Creating awareness among school children for leveraging the use of treated wastewater in India

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Projects

Articles

Waste to wonder: zinc mining waste can be source for magic plant-nutrients

Urbanization and industrialization have placed a heavy load on the environment by generating billion tons of harmful garbage every year. A study by TERI found India, in a year, produces over 62 million tons (MT) of waste, making it a leading cause of environmental and public health concerns in the country.

Towards a Circular Plastics Economy: India’s Actions to #BeatPlasticPollution

Dr Girija K Bharat

World Environment Day 2023 serves as an important reminder that the actions we take to mitigate plastic pollution have a significant impact. Now, more than ever, we must intensify these efforts and swiftly transition to a circular economy. Avanti Roy-Basu and Girija K Bharat say that as the world celebrates World Environment Day in 2023, focusing on “solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution”, it is crucial to understand that each one of us has multiple roles to play in addressing this global crisis.

Microbeads: A Brewing Environmental Concern

Mr Kaushik Chandrasekhar

The prevalence of microplastics in the environment has become a major global concern. Plastics based on their size are broadly classified as Macro and Microplastics (<5 mm) and enter the environment through various routes.

A link towards integrating informal sector may complete the EPR mechanism

Mr Kaushik Chandrasekhar
,
Dr Suneel Pandey

India generates close to 3.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and CPCB estimates suggest close to 60% of this waste is recycled.

नए प्लास्टिक नियमों के ठोस निष्पादन से हो सकता है कचरा प्रबंधन में सुधार

Mr Kaushik Chandrasekhar

सरकार की इतनी बड़ी मात्रा में जमा हो रहे कचरे से निपटने की प्रतिबद्धता का पता प्लास्टिक अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन नियम 2016 से चलता है जिसमें सरकार ने अगस्त 2021 में तीसरी बार संशोधन किया है। अगस्त 2021 में भारत सरकार द्वारा किए गए संशोधन से यह पता लगता है कि भारत इस मुद्दे का समाधान खोजने के लिए नए-नए प्रयास कर रहा है। हालांकि इस मामले में राजनीतिक सहमति के साथ-साथ नीतिगत हस्तक्षेपों के नतीजे सकारात्मक रहे हैं, लेकिन नीतियों का जमीनी स्तर पर निष्पादन अब भी एक बड़ी चुनौती बना हुआ है।

Events

Ayodhya’s Waste-Climate Solutions Workshop II

October 25, 2024
to October 25, 2024

On October 25, 2024, TERI, in collaboration with VITO and AKTU, organized and conducted a workshop on "Ayodhya Waste-Climate Solutions” in Ayodhya as part of the project “Climate Resilience and Resilient Governance in India”: a pilot of capacity building and awareness in Ayodhya sponsored by G-STIC.This workshop provided a learning platform to the stakeholder engaged in Ayodhya’s waste management practices. It introduced the a MSW-Dashboard—a pioneering tool created by TERI and VITO to improve waste management through monitoring of key performance parameters.

Tata Projects delegation visit at TERI Gwal Pahari Campus

August 9, 2024
to August 9, 2024

On August 9, 2024, TERI welcomed Tata Projects’ delegation to its Gwal Pahari Campus for a comprehensive overview of TERI’s research work and sustainable practices. The visit aimed to align with Tata Projects’ sustainability goals and Tata Group’s Aalingana initiative, which is the north star of Tata Group’s sustainability journey.

Book Release: TERI Energy & Environment Data Diary and Yearbook (TEDDY) 2022-23

January 23, 2024
to January 23, 2024

TERI Energy & Environment Data Diary and Yearbook (TEDDY) is an annual publication brought out by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) since 1986. TEDDY presents latest information on energy supply sectors (coal and lignite, petroleum and natural gas, power and renewable energy sources), energy demand sectors (agriculture, industry, transport, residential, and commercial sectors), and environment (local and global). It seeks to support policy research and decision-making by providing policymakers and researchers with the data which can be used to develop actionable solutions.

Webinar on “Achieving Sustainable Waste Management: Circular Economy Approach”

May 24, 2023
to May 24, 2023

24 May 2023 | 14:30 hrs to 16:30 hrs

INOPOL Final Dissemination Event

October 17, 2022
to October 17, 2022

On 17th October 2022 | 10:30 AM - 02:00 PM

News

Sacred cows to become agents of energy as India eyes bioenergy to cut carbon

November 11, 2024 |
November 13, 2024
Forbes India

Biogas is considered a clean energy because the waste used to produce it is completely natural, said Dr Suneel Pandey, Senior Fellow and Director, The Energy and Resources Institute. He added it is a sustainable solution to make wealth from waste.

Toxic froth to greet devotees as Delhi stretch of Yamuna reels under pollution

November 4, 2024 |
November 13, 2024
The Times of India

A report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), which is concurrently undertaking a long-term study on froth formation found that the primary factors contributing to the sudden foam formation at Kalindi Kunj included the disturbance of the sludge bed, high turbulence at the barrage due to increased discharge, and the added load of organics from rainwater runoff.

COP 29 | Why there is a need to redefine waste in a sustainable future: TERI Director General

November 11, 2024
| Dr Vibha Dhawan
| CNBC TV18

Under India's target of 50% of non-fossil based energy capactity (500 GW) by 2030 as part of NDC commitment, the deployment of solar energy is expected to provide around 280 GW in which the deployment of large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) is envisaged, notes Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI.

TERI’s movie on recycling to be screened in cinema halls soon, Sawant launches video

October 22, 2024 |
November 7, 2024
The Times of India

A short film created to raise awareness about pollution by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is set to be screened in theatres across Goa soon. The 1.8-minute film will be shown before regular movies and will also be shown at theatres across India later. The film is based on a study conducted by TERI found that out of all packaging, the aluminium ones can was the most environmentally-friendly in the scenario of climate change as these cans can be recycled infinitely.

How students were inspired to shun plastic

November 6, 2024 |
November 6, 2024
The Times of India

Ms Saltanat Kazi, Fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Southern Regional Centre, Bengaluru, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the crucial role of youth as future decision-makers in waste management. She advocated for schools to become plastic-free zones and implement comprehensive waste management strategies, including source segregation and litter-free drives. Students, as future decision-makers of the country, must use their knowledge to cut plastic consumption and pollution, she said.

Solid waste management should be tried from home

October 16, 2024 |
October 16, 2024
Hindustan

A national seminar on the subject of solid waste management was organized by Prithvi Innovations and TERI at Bhasha Vishwavidyalaya. Chief guest and Dr PK Bhattacharya, Associate Director, TERI said that we will have to move towards cleanliness, packets of chips and cold beverages should be thrown in the dust bin only.

Policy

Sustainable Organic Waste Management : A Playbook for Lucknow, India

September 23, 2024

In 2020, global municipal solid waste (MSW) generation reached 2.24 billion tonnes, a figure projected to rise to 3.88 billion tonnes by 2050. This increase will be largely driven by the fastest-growing regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, where waste levels are expected to double or even triple.

Plastic Waste Management: Turning Challenges into Opportunities

December 2, 2020

Plastics not only are enduring, lightweight, and available at low prices, but also have very good thermal and electrical insulation properties. The versatile properties of various plastic polymers— being water-resistant, non-porous, ductile and malleable—make them suitable for manufacturing a wide range of products that also bring medical and technological advances in our modern society.

G20 Circular Carbon Economy: Fostering Circularity in Plastics

October 27, 2020

Fostering circularity in plastic use is an effective way to reduce contamination of marine and coastal environments with plastics and man-made debris. However, there are many challenges down this path.

Nutrient pollution in the South Asia Seas (SAS)

December 3, 2019

Anthropogenic activities like (i) agriculture fertilisers, (ii) coastal pisciculture, (i) sewage discharge, (iv) industrial activity, (v) burning fossil fuels and (vi) effluents from ports increase nutrients in surface water and seas. Nitrate pollution is largely caused by agriculture run-off, discharge from industry and manure or sewage. Phosphate pollution is tied to improper treatment of detergents in wastewater and from agro-fertilisers.

Discussion Paper on Faecal Sludge Management in Urban India: Policies, Practices, and Possibilities

December 9, 2016

Urban Sanitation and Need for Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) in India The Government of India has undertaken an ambitious social change endeavour of clean and open defecation free (ODF) India. Sustained efforts in this direction has improved the sanitation scenario in India, which in turn would help in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6 of universal and equitable access to safe and aff ordable drinking water and adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all.

Team

Director, Circular Economy and Waste Management
Associate Director, Circular Economy and Waste Management
Area Convenor, Bio-Waste Technologies
Area Convenor, Centre for Waste Management
Area Convener, NMCG-TERI Centre of Excellence on Water Reuse