In response to the escalating pressure on India’s resources due to factory expansion, urbanization, and population growth, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change has crafted a National Resource Efficiency Policy. Its objective is doubling the recycling rate of key materials and promoting the upcycling of waste.
The Overarching Need for Sustainability & Recycling
The present challenges imposed by depleting resources have intensified the urgency to transition from the prevalent use-and-discard model to a more sustainable, circular economy. This approach revolves around two core strategies: enhancing resource use efficiency and recycling materials. Whilst recycling predominantly remains an industrial undertaking, improved resource efficiency demands integrated efforts from all sectors and stakeholders.
The National Resource Efficiency Policy: A Comprehensive Blueprint
To address these concerns, the government has introduced the National Resource Efficiency Policy. It provides a critical evaluation of existing resource promotion policies and envisages propagating life cycle thinking throughout different stakeholders, ensuring they feel included in the process.
This policy is designed to streamline resource-efficiency strategies across various sectors and incorporate them into comprehensive three-year action plans. The current linear consumption and production model fosters waste throughout the value chain. With the economy experiencing turmoil, capitalizing on opportunities at each stage of the product cycle becomes pivotal.
Actions & Measures Under the Policy
Following the National Green Tribunal’s ban on diesel vehicles over ten years old in the National Capital Region, this policy includes provision for collection centers to receive such vehicles and conduct the deregistration process. Also, shredding centers are planned for segregating materials for recycling.
| Year of Vehicle Manufacturing | Planned Recycling Rate |
|---|---|
| Before 1990 | 75% |
| Between 1990 and 2000 | 85% |
| After 2000 | 90% |
Addressing Plastic Waste: An Urgent Concern
Another alarming issue addressed by this policy is the management of plastic waste, which constitutes 8% of the total solid refuse. The draft policy seeks to realize a 100% recycling and reuse rate for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics by 2025.
Towards Sustainable Alternatives and Active Implementation
The National Resource Efficiency Policy serves as a practical guide in the transition towards sustainable resource use. However, the urgency lies in implementing the outlined rules comprehensively on the ground, overseen by pertinent ministries and departments. Every economy sector must lean towards the sustainable use of resources and voluntarily embrace eco-friendly alternatives.
