Recycling new mantra for sustainable industries

Chennai:

Recycling could be the new mantra for industries in the state as policy makers and experts stressed on the need to develop technologies to reuse waste to realize Vision 2023 goal of sustainable industrial production in Tamil Nadu.

Speaking at a day-long seminar on ‘Waste to Wealth – Entrepreneurial opportunities’ here on Wednesday, environment and forests department secretary C V Sankar said the concepts of industries are changing as such there is a need to change the process so that waste could be reused.

The seminar was inaugurated by state minister for rural industries and nutritious noon meal M C Sampath.

He said the state government has formed the Environmental Protection and Renewable Energy Development Fund and has allocated Rs 100 crore for laying of plastic roads along the 446 km stretch. He said the roads using plastic waste cuts down the cost. “Now a kilometer of road costs only Rs 18,000 besides there are suggestions to use pet bottles as building materials,” Sankar said.

S Mohan, director of National institute of technical Teachers Training and Research, said there is a need to segregate the waste into organic and inorganic waste. “People are dumping both organic and inorganic waste as such the waste is dangerous for the environment,” said Mohan.

He said a study was conducted in Kodingayur which found that water is contaminated with cadmium, iron and lead. “We traced it to solid waste which consisted of batteries, tube light and electroplating materials.

He stressed on the need to have a policy to have waster recycled with a system rather than going directly to the dumping yard.

Central Leather Research Institute director A B Mandal highlighted the zero liquid discharge being followed by common effluent treatment plants covering all important leather centers.