BMTPC: Need for Accurate Estimation and Segregation of C&D Waste
Dr Shailesh K. Agrawal, Executive Director, BMTPC, emphasizes the need for accurate estimation and segregation of C&D waste to improve recycling and management practices.
It all began on October 2, 2014, when the Swachh Bharat Mission was launched with the aim of making India clean. Among its various initiatives, the mission envisioned 100% processing of solid waste generated in cities by October 2, 2019. A key objective was the effective management of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste.
My first encounter with C&D waste involved estimating its quantity. Initially, we found that existing literature and Indian documents estimated C&D waste at 10 to 15 million tons. However, after some analysis, along with Dr. Minocha and Dr. Vimal Kumar, we calculated that approximately 30 kg of waste is generated per square meter of housing, leading us to estimate a total of 100 to 250 million tons at that time. This revised figure was later published by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and recognized by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in their environmental management guidelines for C&D waste. This shows that accurate estimation is crucial—what gets measured gets managed.
C&D waste segregation is vital. During a visit to Australia, I saw their advanced, automated systems where C&D waste is efficiently collected and processed. In most developed countries, C&D waste is segregated at the source and, with minimal processing, much of it is repurposed for manufacturing building components. Unfortunately, in our country, most C&D waste still ends up in landfills, causing environmental issues, with only a small percentage being reused or recycled.
Delhi is leading the way with three to four C&D waste processing plants, followed by cities like Ahmedabad and Navi Mumbai, though I am unsure about Hyderabad.
The year 2016 marked a watershed moment for C&D waste management in India. Prior to this, the Government of India had issued solid waste management guidelines in 2000. Recognizing the growing issue of C&D waste, the government released separate guidelines in 2016 through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. These comprehensive guidelines clearly defined the duties and responsibilities of waste generators, service providers, contractors, local authorities, state pollution control boards, and both central and state governments. The guidelines emphasized the proper management of C&D waste, from collection to disposal.
In 2017, the CPCB released additional guidelines titled "Environment Management of C&D Waste," which focused on mitigating the adverse environmental impacts of C&D waste management activities. These guidelines are available for download on the websites of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) and the CPCB. Around the same time, I realized there was still a lack of comprehensive guidelines for C&D waste, so I collaborated with scientists and experts to develop new guidelines in 2017 and 2018. These are also available for download on our website.
