Title: Convert waste to wealth through 5R principles of waste management

Biography:

Shalin Maheshkumar Shah has completed masters in environment management (gold medalist) in 2008. 20 years of experience in the field of Environment Management. He has experience on Climate Change mitigation & adaptation, Value addition to wastes, Cleaner Production, Waste to Energy, Clean Development Mechanism & Multilateral Environmental Agreements. He has around 20 publications for national and international seminars. Currently he is working with Adani Group since April 2011 and heading Environment department since Nov 2015 for Adani Ports across the India. Some of the leading projects include Zero Waste Initiatives, Carbon footprint assessment, and Sustainability Reporting as per GRI-G4.

Abstract

Environment regulations allow disposal of waste through landfill or incineration. This is mere conversion of waste from one phase to another and it also has disadvantage of loss of land and resources. Waste hierarchy suggests to focus on prevention first and disposal at last. Between these two ends one has to explore various options for reduce, reuse, reprocess, recycle and recovery of waste. These 5R principles of waste management have become essential for Sustainable Development.  Port & logistics generates four types of wastes i.e. Municipal Solid Waste, Industrial waste, Bio-medical Waste and E-waste. APSEZ has developed a vision of becoming – a zero waste company by 2020. All wastewaters are reuse for Horticulture purpose. MSW includes paper, plastic, metal, glass, rubber; scrap etc. is segregated at source, sent for recycling. Non-recyclable waste is handled through combustion without use of fuel or electricity. All biodegradable waste is converted to manure and same is used in-house for horticulture purpose. E-waste including other materials such as metals, plastic etc, Used oil/spent oil, and Downgrade chemicals from on board tanks of ships are sold to registered recyclers. Oily water received from vessels (slope) is pumped tangentially in the Oil Water Separator. Separated oil is sold to registered recyclers. Oily cotton waste & pig waste is sent to cement industry for co-processing through cement kiln. These practices results in saving of land, resources, money, emission, pollution and help generate revenue in some cases. Time has come to focus on value added initiatives to make business Sustainable.