Rise Eleven: Investment & Utilization Challenges in C&D Waste Management
Manoj Saxena, Director, Rise Eleven, highlights the challenges faced by concessionaires in the C&D waste processing sector, including issues with waste availability and market acceptance. He discusses the importance of accountability, incentives, and proper utilization of processed materials to achieve best out of waste and contribute to environment protection and conservation of natural resources. In a nutshell, maximize the Circular Economy in this segment of building materials.
As a concessionaire, we entered the C&D waste management field a few years ago, starting with Delhi. Currently, we operate three plants and are in the process of setting up a fourth. We established our first plant having 1000 TPD (Tons Per Day) capacity in 2020 in Delhi. In the year 2022, we started our second plant of 300 TPD in Greater Noida. And, in Agra, we are running a small plant besides setting up a 150 TPD plant. In Lucknow, we are setting up a 300 TPD plant.
While the technology is available, and there are concessionaires willing to invest—primarily through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models—we are facing significant challenges. The most pressing issue, especially outside of Delhi, is the availability of waste. In a PPP model, where we invest in setting up the project, we expect a certain return on our investment and efforts. However, these returns are contingent on the proper utilization of recycled materials, which in turn depends on the availability of waste.
Although we are working in four different cities, including Agra and Lucknow, we are concerned about the quantity of waste we will receive. My revenue largely depends on the volume of waste, as I am building a plant with specific capacity requirements.
Determining the quantity of waste being generated is another major challenge. There is currently no accountability for waste generators—no tracking of how much waste they produce during construction or demolition. This issue is particularly acute in smaller cities, where C&D waste management is a newer concept. In Delhi, C&D waste management has been in place since 2009, so there’s a system in place. However, in cities where these projects have only recently been implemented, the availability of waste remains a significant concern.
Another critical issue is the utilization of the processed waste. Although C&D waste management rules mandate that all government departments should utilize 10 to 20% of recycled materials in their projects, the reality is often quite different.
In my view, beyond raising awareness about C&D waste, it is crucial to sensitize government officials and policymakers. Accountability must be established regarding who is generating the waste, where it is being deposited, and whether it is being used in subsequent projects. Additionally, incentives for the utilization of C&D waste in upcoming projects are essential for creating a sustainable waste management ecosystem.
