Environment- An Overview

The need for environment protection and conservation has assumed tremendous significance especially during this growth and development era. Every business operations must integrate its work with environmental practices. A business that is environmentally friendly which uses resources judiciously and efficiently is more sustainable and is expected to minimise the impact of environmental risks.

Many start-ups have implemented action plans to manage wastes and converted them into valuable resources. The Indian waste management sector has been significantly propelled due to high industrial activity as well as due to high population density. The amount of waste generated by them, both hazardous and non-hazardous, is significant.

The concept of circular economy is widely adopted in India but it has a long way to go as the Indian waste management industry has huge potential but it has highly remained untapped. Only 30% of the 75% recyclable waste is being recycled currently. This is due to shortage of efficient policies, disposal and recycling and such other reasons.

The Indian governments’ flagship program on waste collection and its disposal has provided opportunity galore for startups that are primarily focussing on providing innovative ideas and solutions. E-waste and biomedical waste has been the focus of these start-ups. They have been looking to devise ways to find creative yet scientific procedure to deal with the waste generated.

India has adopted different types of pro-environment initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Green Skill Development Programme, National Clean Air Programme, waste to energy etc.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, also called Clean India Mission is a nationwide campaign launched by the Indian government in 2014 to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management. This initiative sought to enhance awareness about sanitation, proper disposal of solid and liquid wastes and facilitating participation of private sector towards cleanliness.

The Green Skill Development Programme was launched under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It focussed on providing training programmes on soft or green skills. Green skills contribute in preserving environmental quality for a sustainable future. It also includes activities to minimize waste and pollution. 

The National Clean Air Programme was launched by the Central Government with a view to tackle the air pollution problem across the nation in a comprehensive way with a target of 20 to 30% reduction in PM concentrations by 2024.

Waste-to-energy essentially aims to reduce the massive amount of solid wastes accumulating in cities and towns across India. Apart from managing wastes through this initiative, waste-to-energy has the added advantage of producing power that can be used to fulfil rapidly rising energy requirements of urban India.

Environment- Market Overview

The waste management industry involves all types of waste- hazardous as well as non-hazardous wastes generated in households, commercial establishments and institutions, agricultural wastes, e-wastes etc.

The waste management industry had made significant revenues amounting to 1,317m$ in 2019, representing a compound annual growth rate of 3.3% between 2015-19. Industry consumption volume increased with a compound annual growth rate of 1.4% between 2015-19 and reached a total of 52.8 billion tons in 2019.

As far as the e-waste generation is concerned 1.347 lakh metric tonne of e-waste was generated in 2005 as per a survey performed by the CPCB authority. The city of Mumbai has witnessed maximum e-waste generation followed by other cities such as Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

By 2025, the Indian waste management market size is expected to be worth 15 Billion USD with an annual growth around 7%. An ever growing economy, increasing urban population, high living standards and increasing consumption levels have become a common trend especially in developing economies of the world. In India, with an increase in purchasing power, affordability and accessibility to resource usage has also increased along with rapid surge in waste volumes also.  Going by the present trend in terms of urbanization in India, the quantum of MSW may see an increase in next 10 years. It will present a business opportunity estimated at 20 billion USD.

Indian Electric Vehicle Market- Another step towards environment conservation

One of the most common causes behind pollution is the vehicles used by people. In order to curb the rise of pollution due to these vehicles, an alternative/less energy intensive option was opted globally. India too has invested in this electric mobility shift. By shifting to the electric vehicles, India has a vast potential of doing well considering the fact that it has abundant renewable energy resources and skilled manpower in the technology and manufacturing sectors.

The Indian electric vehicle market has the potential to grow at a CAGR of 90% and is expected to stand at 150$ billion by 2030. Although the Indian EV market is in infant stage but it is estimated to grow at CAGR of 90% from 2021-2030. Sale of EVs account for only 1.3% of total vehicle sales in India during 2020-21 but the market is rapidly growing and will be worth more with the passage of time. As far as the environmental impact is concerned, India's move to adopt electric mobility can help it to save 1 GT of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030.

Regulations governing Environment Industry in India

There have been numerous environmental related legislations and regulations that existed before Indian independence. However, a well developed framework governing environment was made only after the Stockholm conference of 1972. The National Council for Environmental Policy & Planning was introduced in 1972 which later evolved into a full fledged ministry called as the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The Ministry of Environment & Forest is the supreme administrative body in the country. It regulates and ensures environment protection and formulates legal and regulatory framework for the same. This Ministry is also the Nodal agency in India for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The MoEF undertakes surveys, impact assessment, regeneration programmes, support to organizations, research to solve problems and training to augment the requisite manpower, collection and dissemination of environment related information and spreads environmental awareness among all sectors of Indian population.

Regulatory Authority

• Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC);
• Central Pollution Control Board;
• State Pollution Control Boards;
• National Green Tribunal;
• District Level Authorities (municipal corporations).

The MoEF & the pollution control boards i.e., Central PCB and State PCB form the regulatory and administrative core of this sector.

Some of the prominent regulations applicable under the environment industry are as follows:

• Environment Protection Act of 1986;
• Hazardous Waste Management Regulations;

1. Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary) Rules, 2008;
2. Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998,;
3. Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016;
4. E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016;
5. Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016;
6. Batteries Management;
7. Municipal Solid Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000.

• Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act;
• Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act;
• The National Green Tribunal Act 2010;
• Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972;
• Forest (Conservation) Act 1980;
• Public Liability Insurance Act 1991;
• Biological Diversity Act 2002.

Compliances under Environment norms

Environmental compliance by businesses is necessary to operate legally. Businesses, just like individual citizens, are constitutionally required to protect and conserve the environment, and they are as equally legally obligated to ensure that they comply with environmental regulations. Most companies today have kept environmental compliance as their topmost priority as they have understood the value in long term sustainability.

Compliances under environment norms involves obtaining the following from the concerned authorities:

• Plastic Waste Processors Authorisation;
• Authorization for Export of E-waste;
• Authorization for Export of Hazardous Waste;
• Authorization for Import of Hazardous Waste’
• EPR Authorization for Plastic waste Management;
• E-Waste Recycling Authorization;
• Hazardous Waste Management Authorization;
• Solid Waste Management Authorization;
• EPR Authorization for E-waste;
• EPR Registration;
• PRO Authorization;
• Plastic Waste Authorization;
• Refurbisher Authorization and License;
• Environmental management plan;
• Arrangement for transportation of waste from generators;
• WPC Certification;
• New Lead Acid Battery Import License;
• Lithium-Ion Battery Import License;
• Bio Medical Waste Recycling Plant;
• Registration for Lead Acid Battery Recycling;
• Plastic Waste Recycling Plant & PWM E-waste License for Dismantling;
• Registration for Scrap Battery Import.

Companies that don’t satisfy the compliance requirements will face regulatory action and will have to bear the brunt of non-compliance.

Environmental compliance audits

This type of compliance audits involve thorough inspection and review of facilities which helps in ensuring whether a company is meeting environmental regulations. It may include a review of compliance with the local, state or central regulations and also internal company policies. The ultimate goal of the compliance audit is not limited to protecting the environment but to help the company manage risk.

How does Enterslice help?

By working closely with clients Enterslice helps to meet the demands of environmental legislations and compliances and helps in finding sustainable solutions to streamline the planning, construction and operational stages of new projects. Further Enterslice helps in the following manner:

• Environment Clearances

A business requires to conform to the regulatory requirements in order to protect the environment as unplanned and unsustainable activities can affect the environment negatively. Therefore it is necessary to obtain environmental clearance from the MoEF which involves filing of forms and reports. It can be a complex exercise to get necessary approvals from the authorities hence Enterslice with its team of experts can help you secure all necessary clearances for your business. 

• Environment Impact Assessment

This refers to a process of evaluating the potential environmental impact of a prospective project, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural, and human health impacts. Through environment impact assessment, the positive and negative environmental, economic, and social impacts of a project can be assessed. It helps in predicting the environmental impact of a proposed project in the pre-planning stage. This ensures that decisions can be taken to reduce the negative impacts. At Enterslice we assist our clients with all the technical details and other necessary information on the proposed project which enables in determining the extent of the potential environmental impacts the project will have on the environment.

• Environment Audit

Environmental audit involves thorough inspection and review of facilities which helps in ensuring whether a company is meeting environmental regulations. The main objective behind this exercise is to review a company’s operations and processes in order to assess compliance with environmental norms. It is a good tool for prudent environment management. Enterslice has expertise in carrying out environmental audits of an organisation. The audit is carried out by professionals in accordance to the guidelines prescribed by the state pollution control board from time to time.