11 committees set up to drive country to Circular Economy

The government has set up 11 committees which will be led by the concerned line ministries apart from officials from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and NITI Aayog.  The committee will expedite the transition India from a linear to a circular economy across the 11 focus areas.

Highlights

These committees will be preparing the comprehensive action plans to help in transitioning from the linear to the circular economy in the respective focus areas. The committee will also carry the necessary modalities which in turn will ensure the effective implementation of findings and recommendations.

Focus Area

The government has selected 11 focus area to move from linear economy to the circular economy. The areas include: Municipal Solid Waste & Liquid Waste, Electronic Waste, Scrap Metal (Ferrous & Non-Ferrous), Solar Panels, Gypsum, Lithium-Ion Batteries, Agriculture Waste, Toxic Hazardous Industrial Waste, Used Oil Waste, Tyre and Rubber Recycling and End-of-life Vehicles (ELVs).

What is the need of transition?

Sustainable growth is the key element of the Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat initiative. So, India needs a development model for the optimum utilization of resources. Thus, in the light of climate change, growing population, rapid urbanization, and environmental pollution, there is a need to move towards the circular economy.

Circular Economy

Circular economy or  circularity is an economic system which aims to eliminating the waste and continual use of resources. This system accounts for reuse, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling and sharing in order to create a closed-loop system. Thus, it minimises the use of resource inputs. It also minimises the creation of pollution, waste and carbon emissions. If India adopts the circular economy path, it could bring in the substantial annual benefits. It will help in reducing the congestion and pollution.

Government Policies

The Indian Government has been actively formulating the policies and has been promoting the projects which will drive country towards the circular economy. Government has notified several rules like “Plastic Waste Management Rules, Construction & Demolition Waste Management Rules, e-Waste Management Rules and Metals Recycling Policy etc.” NITI Aayog has also undertaken initiatives which ensures the economic growth. It organises an International conference on “Sustainable Growth through National Recycling”.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2021