Introduction

By and large, today’s manufacturing takes raw materials from the environment and turns them into new products, which are then disposed into the environment after use. It is a linear process with a beginning and an end. In this system, limited raw materials eventually run out. Waste accumulates, either incurring expenses related to disposal or else polluting—indeed. In a circular economy, however, products are designed for durability, reuse and recyclability, and materials for new products come from old products. As much as possible, everything is reused, remanufactured, recycled back into a raw material, used as a source of energy, or as a last resort, disposed of. Traditionally, the Indian economy has been one where reusing, re-purposing and recycling have been second nature.

Restorative and regenerative by design, a circular economy aims to keep products, components, and materials at their highest utility and value at all times. A circular economy is a continuous cycle that preserves and enhances natural capital, optimizes resource yields, and minimizes system risks by managing finite stocks and renewable flows. The concept of circular economy, a metaphor that neatly resonates with Mahatma Gandhi’s ardent lifelong quest for efficiency in production, sufficiency in consumption and what he could well have called “conservancy” of resources and ‘deficiency’ in wastes, captures well the desirable characteristics of the future we will all have to live in – and how to get there.

THE PRINCIPLES OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Principle 1: Preserve and enhance natural capital by controlling finite stocks and balancing renewable resource flows.

Principle 2: Optimize resource yields by circulating products, components, and materials at their highest utility at all times, in both technical and biological cycles.

Principle 3: Foster system effectiveness by revealing and designing out negative externalities.

TOWARDS CIRCULAR ECONOMY BY 3R PRINCIPLE

Circular consumption is an indispensable part of a circular economic system for sustaining the economic growth and mitigating environmental degradation and resource depletion. The challenge to put circular consumption into practice can be addressed by 3R Principle that is based on Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.

The principle reflects on the scope for converting wastes into valuable products and making the Mission Zero Waste a reality. This Mission emphasizes 100% scientific waste management in 400 targeted cities of the country.

POLICY INITIATIVES

Government of India has done substantial work towards Policy interventions and formulation such as

• Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards;
• Formulation of environmental regulations / statutes;
• Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality;
• Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blend etc;
• Promotion of cleaner production processes.
• Launching of National Air Quality index by the Prime Minister in April, 2015;
• Implementation of Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) norms in 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV by 2017;
• Decision taken to leapfrog directly from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards by 1st April, 2020;
• Taxing polluting vehicles and incentivizing hybrid and electric vehicles;
• Comprehensive amendments to various Waste Management Rules including Municipal Solid Waste, Plastic Waste, Hazardous Waste, Bio-medical Waste and Electronic Waste notified;
• Notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules;
• Ban on burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste;
• Promotion of public transport network of metro, buses, e-rickshaws and promotion of car pooling, Pollution Under Control, lane discipline, vehicle maintenance;
• Revision of existing environmental standards and formulation of new standards for prevention and control of pollution from industries;
• Regular co-ordination meetings at official and ministerial level with Delhi and other State Governments within the NCR;
• Issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and under Section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
• Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries.
• Preparation of action plan for sewage management and restoration of water quality in aquatic resources by State Governments;
• Implementation of National River Conservation Plan for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers and undertaking conservation activities which inter-alia include interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation facilities, education and awareness creation, community participation, electric/improved wood crematoria and river front development.
• India’s National Manufacturing Policy focuses on promotion and adoption of Green technologies and Green manufacturing especially with its MSMEs.
• Government of India has embarked upon an initiative of creating 100 smart cities across the country and waste management & resource conservation are significant part of this important initiative.
• Government of India is in process of finalizing national goals under UN’s sustainable development goals.
• Government of India has promoted the concept of Zero Effect Zero Defect Effect in order to achieve Green economic growth.
• Government of India has emphasized focused on Development of MSMEs and making them competitive and sustainable in order to achieve increased economic growth in manufacturing sector.

Way Forward

The following actions are required to lead the way to transition to Circular Economy:-

• Set direction and show commitment.
• Create enabling regulatory frameworks and remove policy barriers.
• Represent the interests of groups like the informal sector, or facilitate collaborative initiatives among businesses, the public sector, and other stakeholders
• Support circular models through public procurement and infrastructure.
• Embed circular economy principles into education.
• Conduct research and pilot projects to create a knowledge base and establish proof points. 

These efforts will ensure sustainable development for India in the long run by not only reducing negative externalities but also fully utilizing the positive externalities.