The agenda for construction and demolition waste is to ensure collection of the waste, its transportation and its reuse and recycling through new products
Construction and demolition (C&D) waste is a growing problem in a rapidly developing India that infringes upon various environmental functions.
When dumped indiscriminately, it destroys waterbodies; adds to dust problems in the city, which in turn contributes to air pollution. We know today that construction and road dust contributes to PM10 concentration by up to 40 per cent in Delhi in certain seasons and up to 85 per cent in Chennai based on respective source apportionment studies conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology.
It is also important to note that dust per se is not a pollutant but because it gets coated with toxins emitted from vehicles and other combustion, it becomes deadly.
C&D waste is also a resource; we use precious sand to make buildings; the waste from construction, if utilised and recycled, can reduce the need for natural materials; save our river sand.
So, the C&D agenda is to ensure collection of the waste; its transportation and its reuse and recycling through new products.
In 2016, C&D waste management rules were launched to guide and mandate cities to prepare their waste bye-laws; setup collection, transportation, and recycling infrastructure; and mandate waste generators to prepare a waste management plan, segregate, handover waste to urban local bodies and pay charges. This was followed by Environment Protection (Amendment) Rules in 2018, to enable dust control in the construction sector.
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