Floral Waste is boosting circularity in economy

Context:

The floral waste sector in India is experiencing new growth, marked by its multifaceted benefits.

Relevance:

GS II: Environment and Ecology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Waste to Wealth
2. Highlighted Initiatives in Waste Management

Waste to Wealth:

• As a significant move towards sustainability and a circular economy, the focus on waste to wealth is the way to be.
• The floral waste sector in India is experiencing new growth, marked by its multifaceted benefits. Not only is it providing meaningful employment opportunities for women, but is also effectively diverting waste from dumpsites, contributing to environmental preservation.
• What is the issue?
  • Floral waste, collected from the spiritual sites mostly biodegradable, often ends up in landfills or water bodies, causing health hazards and harming aquatic life.
  • According to a UN Climate Change report, the river Ganga alone absorbs over 8 million MT of flower waste annually. 
• Measures to be undertaken:
  • Implementing composting pits in temples and involving Temple trusts and SHGs in recycling efforts can create significant employment opportunities.
    • Social entrepreneurs are stepping in to recycle flowers into valuable products like organic compost, soaps, candles, and incense sticks.
  • Outreach programs to educate priests and devotees about not dumping floral waste in rivers can help encourage waste reduction.
  • The “Green Temples” concept can be integrated into policies to transform temples into eco-friendly spaces.
  • Promoting digital offerings or biodegradable materials instead of traditional flowers can also help reduce floral waste. 
  • The National Horticulture Board can be involved in tracking and managing floral waste in green spaces like parks etc.
• The Swachh Bharat Mission is spearheading a transformative journey towards sustainability, where the ethos of circular economy and waste-to-wealth reign supreme.

Highlighted Initiatives in Waste Management:

Swachh Bharat Mission for Solid Waste Management:

• Central assistance provided for solid waste management, including plastic waste management in urban and rural areas.
• Launch of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 in 2021 with the goal of creating “Garbage Free Cities.”
• Focus on door-to-door collection, source segregation, and scientific processing of municipal solid waste.
• Emphasis on source segregation, reducing single-use plastic, managing construction-and-demolition waste, and bio-remediation of waste dump sites.
• Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen Phase II includes solid waste management activities at the village level.

 Waste Management Rules and Guidelines:

• Implementation of various waste management rules and guidelines under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Includes Solid Waste Management Rules (2016), Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016), Bio-medical Waste Management Rules (2016), Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules (2016), Hazardous and other wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules (2016), E-waste Management Rules (2022), and Battery Waste Management Rules (2022).
• Guidelines issued for environmentally sound waste management.
• Development of guidelines for the levy of environmental damages/environmental compensation charges based on the polluter pays principle for hazardous waste, E-waste, and plastic waste.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Mechanism:

• EPR is a policy approach that holds producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products.
• Producers are responsible for product collection, recycling, and disposal.
• Aims to reduce environmental impact by shifting waste management responsibility to producers.
• In 2022, EPR initiatives were implemented for plastic packaging, E-waste, battery waste, and used oil.
• Utilization of market mechanisms expected to stimulate growth in the waste management sector.

Waste Processing Capacity:

• Approximately 76% of the 1.5 lakh metric tons per day (MT/D) of urban waste is processed.
• Notable increase in waste processing capacity since 2014.
• Capacity expansion for solid waste, hazardous waste, bio-medical waste, E-waste, plastic waste, and construction and demolition waste.
• Solid waste processing capacity increased by around 1.05 lakh MT/D under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).

-Source: PIB