Recycling Roots
Growing up, I fondly remember a practice I had witnessed back home in Kerala, on how my mother diligently washed and collected all the milk packet covers so that she could hand them over to the person who came to collect them which further went for recycling, turning household waste into resources. Similarly, at the end of each academic year, we would pull out all the used pages from our notebooks that is sold and recycled further – earning some pocket money for vacations as well as a sense of accomplishment of the year we completed.
Recycling, back then, felt like second nature. Nothing was ever disposed off; everything had a second life to live!
Fast forward to today, consumerism has taken centre stage and those simple recycling practices have disappeared. However, the core idea of circularity/circular economy is to rediscover the mindset of reuse, repurpose and everything is given a second chance.
Circularity in India
India has made significant progress in Solid Waste Management, especially with various National Schemes like the Swachh Bharath Mission and AMRUT 2.0, prioritizing them as a core focus. Yet, despite 67% of the total urban areas being covered by door-to-door waste collection, the reality is stark, as only 23% of the waste is processed. The rest of the waste accumulates in dumpsites as “legacy waste” – the struggles we discussed at length in our previous blog (https://wash-towns.com/insights/forgotten-dumpsites-forgotten-towns-indias-struggles-with-small-town-waste)
The issues of waste management are not unique to India. Countries across the world struggle with mounting piles of trash and the ways to manage and reduce them. But, as the saying goes, ‘The journey of a thousand miles begin from a single step’ – the solution to this global challenge begin in our own homes.
Sorting of Waste at Saahas Zero Waste MRF. V.C - Jane/BORDA
Dumped in the bins but not wasted forever!
Few weeks ago, my team and I had the opportunity to visit a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) managed by Saahas Zero Waste in Bangalore. As we drove into the industrial area where the facility was located, I couldn’t help but reflect on how this operation represents a critical link in closing the waste management loop.
The MRF we visited processes nearly 10 tonnes of waste per day. Despite its scale, the MRF operates on the principles that echo the practices I witnessed as a child.
Waste here is not discarded; it’s segregated, cleaned, stacked, and sold, keeping resources in use for as long as possible - a core circular economy principle.
The facility operates like a well-oiled machine, efficiently handling multiple waste streams and diverting them from landfills, thus contributing to climate goals one tonne at a time.
With municipal solid waste emissions projected to reach 41 million tonnes by 2030, it’s more urgent than ever to tackle waste as part of India’s net-zero goals for 2070.
Big Opportunities, Small Challenges
The MRF thrives on the waste collected from IT parks and shopping malls, which arrives well-segregated and often contains high-value recyclables supporting the financial viability of such business models.
However, the smaller share of waste received from municipal wards requires additional effort in segregation. That’s where the small towns often face hurdles – without the same economies of scale as the metros. Large facilities are less feasible. But that doesn’t mean small towns are out of the loop.
Understanding and implementing circular economy principles from such facilities can make a significant difference in the small towns.
Unlocking circularity for small towns!
Despite the growing spotlight on the circular economy, its application and the practical implications on the ground, specifically for small towns, is limited. The lack of financial and human resource capacity, along with the disadvantage of small scale, limits the sustainable application of such concepts to small towns.
However, once the concept is broken down, it becomes nothing but the simple basics and practices our past generations followed that worked.
Creating shorter loops in circularity: The shorter the stream of waste travels before being put to recycling/reuse, the more efficient it is in reducing transportation and related emissions, this can be achieved through decentralised facilities. BORDA SA has successfully implemented such facilities in Leh and Kargil, where recyclables are sold locally, encouraging segregation and recycling.
Diverting waste from landfills/dumpsites: Small-scale dry waste collection facilities with a clustered approach can support finding vendors and forward linkages to ensure feasibility and sustained functionality. By focusing on the recovery of reusable/recyclable waste ensures the diversion of waste from landfills/dumpsites thus contributing to climate mitigation goals by lowering GHG emissions.
Formalise Informal Waste Flows: Formal and informal waste collection co-exist in all small towns. In a study by BORDA SA in the small town of Chikkaballapur, generating around 25 tons of waste per day, 30-40 informal waste collectors and recycling aggregators collect an average of 5 tons of different types of segregated waste daily. Integrating their efforts and data with formal systems can improve waste management and support circularity.
What is measured often improves and creates a market: In the case of small towns, the quantity of waste generated is usually a mystery. Assessing the quantum of various waste streams, particularly the recyclables and high-value materials, helps build confidence in the resale market and create more reliable recycling systems.
Waste Isn’t Wasted Until We Say It Is!
Ultimately, waste is only as valuable as we decide to make it. By embracing the principles of circular economy and adapting to the scale and needs of smaller towns, we can transform waste from a problem into a valuable resource. The visit to Saahas Zero Waste's MRF was a powerful reminder of how thoughtful, conscientious waste management systems can lead to substantial global impacts.
In a world increasingly affected by climate change, small towns can demonstrate that local actions can change narratives with significant, far-reaching impacts.
