Date: 14/03/2023

Relevance: GS-3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution, and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Key Phrases: Net-Zero Waste for Buildings, Sustainable Development Goals, manual scavenging, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Circular Economy in Municipal Solid and Liquid Waste.

Why in News?

• The Indian government is set to make it mandatory for all upcoming housing societies and commercial complexes to ensure net zero waste and have their liquid discharge treated as part of a wider push to reform and modernize the sewage disposal system.

What is Net-Zero Waste?

• Achieving net zero waste means reducing, reusing, and recovering waste streams (sludge) to convert them to valuable resources so that zero solid waste is sent to landfills.
• This approach is considered a sustainable way of managing waste as it aims to minimize environmental impact and reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

Mandating Net-Zero Waste for Buildings

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will send a directive to all state governments by the end of March to make net zero waste mandatory for all upcoming housing societies and commercial complexes. This will form part of the building by-laws and will be strictly enforced.
• The government is also looking at integrating septic tank design into the building by-laws, reducing GST on mechanized cleaning vehicles, and geo-tagging all septic tanks and manholes for proper tracking.
• The proposed directive also includes guidelines for urban local bodies like municipalities to:
  • Explore the potential of commercial use of processed sludge as fertilizer,
  • Impanelling all agencies providing sanitation services in both the organized and unorganized sectors, and
  • Reviewing the Indian standards for mechanized cleaning equipment.
• The government will also review the Indian standards for mechanized cleaning equipment and consider differential tariff rates for residential and commercial de-sludging.
• Legal Penalty for Non-Adherence:
  • For proper implementation, the Centre will ask the states to impose a legal penalty if buildings do not adhere to the bylaws and standard operating procedures.

Significance:

• Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals:
  • The United Nations SDG 6.3 aims to "halve the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increase recycling and safe reuse globally” by 2030.
  • The introduction of net-zero waste will help achieve this goal, leading to a cleaner and healthier environment for all.
• Improved Sewage Disposal System:
  • The primary benefit of mandating net-zero waste for buildings is the improvement of the sewage disposal system.
  • With a mechanized sewage system and adherence to the zero net waste clause, the amount of untreated wastewater entering rivers, lakes, or groundwater will significantly reduce.
  • India currently generates 72,368 million litres per day of urban wastewater, of which only 28% is treated, according to data from 2023. This implies that 72% of untreated wastewater may be entering rivers, lakes, or groundwater.
  • The introduction of net-zero waste will help reduce this number and improve the overall sewage disposal system in the country.
• Boosting the Country’s Economy:
  • According to a 2021 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ report titled ‘Circular Economy in Municipal Solid and Liquid Waste’, the country’s economy could be boosted if the sale of treated sewage is institutionalized.
  • At a conservative estimation, it has the potential to add close to ₹3,285 crore annually.
• Complete Removal of Manual Scavenging:
  • The directives are part of the government’s effort to implement the Manhole to Machine-hole scheme for the complete removal of manual scavenging.
  • Finance Minister had announced, as part of her budget speech for 2023-24, that all cities and towns will be enabled for 100% transition of sewers and septic tanks from manhole to machine-hole mode.
  • The government’s intent is to end manual scavenging, with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment estimating 400 people have died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks since 2017, experts believe a mechanized sewage system coupled with the mandatory zero net waste clause for housing and commercial complexes was important for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well.
• Convergence with other programs:
  • The directives have been formulated as a convergence of programs like Swachh Bharat, NAMASTE (National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem), and AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation).
• The Real Estate Sector Response:
  • The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI), the apex body of private real estate developers in India, has welcomed the move.
  • They have encouraged their members to set up solid and liquid waste management units in their projects, with some developers even setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs) within their project premises.

Conclusion:

• The move to mandate net zero waste for buildings is a significant step towards sustainable waste management in India.
• It aligns with the country's Sustainable Development Goals and will help to reduce the amount of untreated wastewater entering rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
• It is hoped that this move will encourage the real estate sector to invest in solid and liquid waste management units and sewage treatment plants.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Question:

Q. Describe the steps taken by the Indian government to achieve net-zero waste and ensure proper sewage disposal systems. What impact is this likely to have on the country's economy? Critically analyse the effectiveness of these measures in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).