Aiming to use 80 per cent of wastewater by 2030 in Gujarat, taking inspiration from the bold moves for generating zero waste in Japan and Germany, and mandatory recycling of waste — these were the talking points at ‘Opportunities through circular economy: Recycling waste-water and waste to energy’, a session held at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated a new economy of utilising waste, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel asserted at the session. Giving examples of gobar gas and biogas projects, the Chief Minister said that "such changes have brought positive changes in the rural economy". While congratulating Surat for receiving the recognition for 'cleanest city' in the Swachh Survekshan Awards, the Chief Minister said that the Surat Municipal Corporation generates a revenue of Rs 140 crore annually by treating wastewater and giving it to industries in a fine example of a circular economy. At the session, D Thara, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, spoke about the example set by Germany and Japan. “The day you can build incinerators in the center of the city. that brings transparency. Germany and Japan have taken these bold steps. They have 107 parameters of zero waste city. We also have garbage-free cities. But we are looking at it from the time the waste gets shipped. On the other hand, Germany and Japan look at it even before it gets produced,” she suggested. One of the most critical decisions that Gujarat has taken is it gave a clear mandate that treated water will be used, J P Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Gujarat Finance Department, underlined. “Gujarat has charted that by 2030, we want to use almost 80 per cent of the wastewater to be given to different users….One can see that they are getting a huge economic advantage by using treated wastewater," Gupta asserted. On making recycling mandatory, Rajkumar Beniwal, CEO of Gujarat Maritime Board, said, “Recycling used to be an option earlier but now it is going to be a compulsion. We cannot stop creating waste, but we can certainly reuse it, recycle it, or maybe reduce it." Meanwhile, Auguste Tano Kouame, Country Director, World Bank, highlighted that "the message is we don't have to wait for the government to tell us how to behave". “We must recognise that waste is wealth and poorly managed waste is bad health. Then we change our behaviours.” Referring to the increasing air pollution in Delhi, Kouame said, “Here in this state, you can breathe clean air. But those of us in Delhi. we know that if you're not managing waste properly, it can even affect the quality of the air that you breathe. So you know the planet can become unliveable simply.”
