India's organic waste economy: Properly utilizing organic (wet) waste from India's urban areas could prove to be a major game-changer for the country's development. This waste could make citizens millionaires.

Waste will improve the country's economy.

Organic Waste Economy: The rapidly growing wet waste in Indian cities is no longer just a challenge, but could become a major opportunity for employment, clean energy, and economic development. According to a report by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), India's urban organic waste (kitchen leftovers, vegetable peels, and gardening waste) could generate an economy of over ₹5 lakh crore by 2047 and provide direct employment to 2.6 million people.

What is organic waste?

Your kitchen's wet waste truly holds a "treasure." This waste is also known as organic treasure or "black gold." Wet waste includes things like fruit and vegetable peels, tea leaves, and leftover food. Instead of discarding it as waste, you can use it to make compost, biogas, bio-CNG, and other organic products, which can play a significant role.

1.71 lakh tonnes of waste every day

According to a report, "Indian cities generate approximately 171,000 tons of municipal solid waste daily, about half of which is wet waste. Currently, approximately 61 percent of total municipal solid waste is recycled. By 2047, urban municipal waste alone could reach approximately 200 million tons per year."

Millions of jobs could be created.

The report states that waste collection, sorting, processing, plant operation, technical maintenance, and other services can generate significant employment. Improved waste management has the potential to create approximately 2.6 million direct jobs. The report believes that if India views wet waste as an employment opportunity rather than a problem and rapidly implements its management, this sector could play a significant role in achieving employment, investment, clean energy, and climate goals in the coming years.