World recycling day 2024: It’s time to embrace responsible recycling practices to address the pressing environmental and health challenges of our time
As we celebrate World Recycling Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to sustainability, realizing that every act of recycling is a step towards a cleaner, healthier future for all.
As the world commemorates World Recycling Day, the spotlight is cast upon the indispensable significance of recycling in safeguarding our planet and promoting human well-being. The voices of industry leaders echo a resounding call for responsible waste management practices, emphasizing the critical impact of recycling on environmental sustainability and public health.
Nitin Gupta, Co-founder and CEO, Attero, underscores the pivotal role of responsible e-waste management in preserving our planet amidst the escalating reliance on electronic devices. Gupta stresses the pressing need for robust recycling infrastructures to combat the environmental threats posed by improper disposal of e-waste, particularly lithium batteries. “At Attero, the commitment extends beyond recycling to cultivating a greener, healthier future through innovative initiatives that extract rare minerals and metals from e-waste with over 98% efficiency,” adds Gupta. His vision aligns with a sustainable circular economy, aiming to reduce the burden of mining and promote environmental stewardship for future generations.
Echoing Gupta’s sentiments, Abhishek Deshpande, Co-founder, Recykal, emphasizes the paramount importance of recycling in effectively managing waste materials to protect ecosystems and human health. Deshpande highlights Recykal’s transformative initiatives in plastic recycling, such as the ‘digital DRS’ behavioral change program, which diverted over 1.5 million plastic bottles from sensitive areas like Kedarnath. “Additionally, the ‘Samudra Manthan’ project reclaimed over 70,000 metric tons of ocean-bound plastic waste, contributing to environmental preservation and resource conservation,” opines Deshpande.
Furthermore, Deshpande underscores the urgent need for enhancing metal recycling rates in India, given its significant potential to bolster self-sufficiency and reduce environmental impact. With India generating an estimated 65 million tonnes of waste annually, projected to surge to 165 million tonnes by 2030, Recykal aims to channel at least 10% of India’s waste, contributing to the mitigation of soil and water pollution, conservation of precious metals, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
In conclusion, the testimony of industry leaders like Nitin Gupta and Abhishek Deshpande underscores the imperative of embracing responsible recycling practices to address the pressing environmental and health challenges of our time. As we celebrate World Recycling Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to sustainability, realizing that every act of recycling is a step towards a cleaner, healthier future for all.
