"National Recycling day” starts in India

ITC Limited, in association with the Ramky Group of Hyderabad, organized an event at the Nizam College Grounds to commemorate the first-ever ‘National Recycling Day’, recently. The event was graced by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. D. K. Rosiah, as the Chief Guest and Hon’ble Union Minister for Urban Development, Govt. of India, Shri Jaipal Reddy, as the Guest of Honour. A first-of-its-kind initiative, this event organized to enhance awareness on the significance of Recycling, witnessed participation from a record number of school children from the state.

The world today stands on the brink of an impending catastrophe in the form of environmental degradation. The gradual depletion of our natural resources is a global phenomenon that is threatening the planet that we all live in. With India’s population growing at a rate of 2.21% per annum and total quantum of waste generation amounting to 532 million MT per annum, the situation clearly calls for some immediate remedial measures.

Recycling is clearly one of the most important and viable ways to combat the challenges of resource depletion. At least 30% of the net MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) is recyclable. Reducing inert materials, the net MSW could be 373 million MT per annum and at a conservative recovery level of 15% at all India level 56 million MT of recyclables like paper, plastics, metal, cloth, wood and glass can be recovered per annum through source segregation. Source Segregation of recyclables reduces the load on natural resources, provide cost effective raw material to industry, improve health and hygiene and provide clean and green surroundings.

If we could recover even 15% (56 million MT) of the recyclable materials per annum through source segregation, we could reduce the load on natural resources and effectively re-arrange waste management techniques in the country.

As a responsible corporate entity, committed to positive environmental action, ITC’s Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division, has initiated a recycling program – WOW or ‘Wealth Out of Waste’ - a project that aims at source segregation and recovery of maximum recyclables which will provide low-cost materials to industries and in turn reduce the burden on the environment.