Waste and recycling sector in India
The Indian waste management market is experiencing healthy growth due to high population density and the growth of the manufacturing sector, which produces large quantities of waste, both hazardous and non-hazardous. The Indian waste management industry offers huge potential as only 30% of the 75% recyclable waste is currently recycled. The lack of proper waste collection, treatment and recycling policies and lack of efficient infrastructure are just some of the many reasons leading to the country's poor waste management. The demand for innovative and affordable solutions to efficiently process waste into usable materials is high.
Market statistics on the waste and recycling sector in India
Indian waste industry offers $14 billion business opportunity by 2025
With the growth in production and domestic consumption, India's total waste generation will increase from 62 million tonnes per year to as much as 162 million tonnes by 2030.
According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2017, India generates about 2 million tonnes of electronic waste annually and ranks fifth among e-waste producing countries, below the US, China, Japan and Germany. In 2016-17, India treated only 0.036 million tonnes of its electronic waste. About 95 per cent of India's electronic waste is recycled in the informal sector.
COVID-19 Impact
In India, lockdowns have led not only to a reduction in pollutant emissions but also to a decrease in industrial and commercial waste generation. In contrast, medical waste from the pharmaceutical and medical industries has increased by 40 percent. Due to insufficient capacity to handle this hazardous waste, India is struggling with the accumulation of this waste in landfills and limited ability to properly dispose of it. In addition, the lockdowns have seen an increase in municipal waste, but it is not being collected with the same regularity as normal. Many of the recycling operations have come to a halt due to the new corona rules, posing a challenge to municipal waste collection and processing.
Growth of India's waste & recycling sector
India, like the other growing economies of the world, is seeing an increase in urban population, a rise in income and a rise in consumption levels.
The need for proper disposal of both municipal and industrial waste is growing.
That said, nearly 62 million tonnes of waste are still generated in India every year.
At present, around 100 energy plants are being set up in India to convert waste into energy in a clean way.
India has the potential to generate about 3GW of electricity from waste by 2050.
The municipal waste industry in India is expected to have a capital requirement of nearly $65 billion by 2030.
India will produce about 90 million tonnes of waste per year by 2030-2032.
The major players in the waste and recycling industry in India
National waste and recycling companies in India
A2Z Green Waste Management
BVG India
Ecowise Waste Management
Tatva Global Environment
Hanjer Biotech Energies
International waste and recycling companies in India
Hitachi Zosen Corporation
Remondis AG & Co. Kg
Suez Environment S.A.
Veolia Environment S.A.
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