What is the issue?
- The Supreme Court has stayed construction activity in States that do not have a solid waste management policy.
- In this context, understanding the Construction and Demolition (C&D) Wastes' potential becomes essential.
What is Construction and Demolition Waste?
- Construction and demolition waste (C&D) is generated during the construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings or structures.
- These wastes include materials such as concrete, bricks, wood and lumber, roofing, drywall, landscape and other wastes.
- Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules 2016 was released by Ministry of Environment.
- It clearly defines the duties of Waste Generator, Service providers and Contractors, State Government and Local Authorities and Pollution Control boards.
- C&D wastes can revolutionize the construction industry, especially the Housing Industry, if they are properly reused.
What are the guidelines in place?
- Earlier in 2012 the Ministry of Urban Development urged States to set up C&D waste management facilities.
- The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in 2017, brought out the guidelines on Environmental Management of C&D Wastes in India.
- It observed that Construction accounted for nearly 65% of the total investment in infrastructure.
- Therefore it becomes more important to know how to effectively manage construction and demolition waste.
- Further the CPCB’s Waste Management Rules of 2016 and the guidelines 2017 mentions clear timelines on
- formulating policies
- identifying sites for processing
- commissioning the wastes
What are the concerns?
- Despite the above, the performance of industry and the State pollution control boards is poor.
- Around 25-30 million tons of C&D waste is generated annually in India of which only 5% is processed.
- It is significant that 36% of C&D waste comprises soil, sand and gravel.
- This waste impacts soil fertility and is a health hazard in urban areas.
- The virtual absence of recycling also goes against India’s commitments with respect to carbon emission reduction.
- There is an urgent need to recycle C&D waste.
- This is because the rampant sand mining is already destroying river beds and eventually worsening the impact of floods.
What could be done?
- Promoting Green buildings, which entail that C&D waste is utilized, can be made mandatory all over the country.
- At present they are only incentivized in certain States.
- As the 2016 rules have pointed out, the Bureau of Indian Standards and Indian Roads Congress should initiate processes for the use of recycled material.
- For example, pavements and drainage structures can be made this way.
- Recycling will reduce housing costs, given the materials shortage, and can be an integral aspect of 'affordable housing'.
- The construction sector should be more environmentally responsible, by shifting to the use of recycled water and recycling its own waste.
- All stakeholders, especially States and industry, need to create an environmentally sustainable ecosystem.
Source: BusinessLine