Indian think tank welcomes Delhi govt order to recycle construction waste
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a leading think tank of India, has welcomed the recent decision of the Delhi government to mandate recycled products from construction, demolition (CD) waste in all future contracts for building works and road works to be taken up by Delhi government and its agencies, said a press release.
This is an important move forward as construction and demolition of buildings cause enormous wasteabout half of all materials usedthat degrades the land and environment, said Anumita Roychowdhury, head of CSEs Sustainable Urbanisation team.
The Delhi government has issued an advisory on the use of products made out of recycled waste by the Public Works Department (PWD). It has acknowledged that processing of construction and demolition waste has great potential to save urban space, reduce negative environmental impacts, conserve natural resources and address the shortage of building materials.
The advisory has asked for use of such products as a first choice in all construction works. All Delhi government agencies will be required to incorporate a clause in their tenders that mandates use of a minimum of 2 per cent recycled products from construction waste in all future contracts for building works and 10 per cent recycled products for road works.
It expects the urban local bodies to mandate 5 per cent use of such products for non-structural applications, while examining and approving building plans.
We urge the Delhi government to take the next steps to announce a composite policy on CD waste like other states for improved collection, segregation and handling of the waste. Organise more decentralised collection and recycling centres. Penalise wrongful disposal and littering and implement tax measures to lower the cost of recycled products to make them competitive. At the same time, take steps to build public awareness.
