Published in Dwarka Express on 11.2.2023

If anyone climbs up Gazipur (Delhi) landfill, she can very well have a sighting of Qutub Minar’s top at her eye level. This is indeed a true but tongue-in-cheek comment of an environmentalist, who is fed up with the ever-increasing landfills. If alone, waste is properly managed, there is no need to address the economic problem of the country. Waste recycling is critical, given the fact that the population growth is unabated. When PM Modi mentioned about the Circular economy, a term which was much unknown in India, it received some attention from all quarters.

What is circular economy and how it is different from linear economy? In linear model, which has been in existence in India for long, factories, the manufacturers use raw materials, make end products, supply the same for consumption. Consumers use the same and throw them which end up in landfills and oceans. On the contrary the circular economy advocates a model of MAKE, USE, REUSE & RECYCLE again and again.

India desperately needs the circular economy and we have to encourage proper waste management in place. “The Circular Economy gives us the tools to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss together, while addressing important social needs. It gives us the power to grow prosperity, jobs, and resilience while cutting greenhouse gas emissions, waste & pollution control.” – Ellen McArthur Foundation.  Circular economy will be fully operational only when we depend fully on the renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels. Whatever we extract out from earth will never get replenished and some critics argue that circular economy in true sense is near difficult. But with advancement of science and technology, a day will come when circular economy is feasible in totality.  Better augmentation of resources is not utopian task. India badly needs it. And as the country envisages green growth as the maxim for the new national objective, PM’s statement gathers attention. Budget allocation for green growth is one step towards it. But the implementation rests on the bureaucracy. Also India needs to focus on balanced growth duly incorporating poverty alleviation measures