Nudging Circular Economy in Indian Industry: An Evaluation Using ICRIER “Sampada” WSUT Model

Sustainable consumption choices and achieving a circular economy are complementary. Higher economic activity through waste management has a virtuous impact on the economy (via the multiplier) and the environment. This paper looks at the potential impact of industries’ sustainable consumption patterns on the waste ‘reduced, reused and recycled’ by the sector. Using the ICRIER Sampada Waste Supply-Use Model (WSUT) 2018–19 for India, the analysis looks at the waste generation, treatment technology, and costs for 37 sectors of the Indian economy. The model covers five different waste streams—biodegradable municipal solid waste (MSW), non-biodegradable MSW, biomedical waste, hazardous waste, and plastic waste—and five treatment technologies—composting, incineration, material recovery facility (MRF), waste to energy, and landfill. Focussing on waste flows from 15 industries, the paper provides information on industrial waste generation by different types, the extent of waste recycled by industries, and costs for various treatment technologies. The results show that the manufacturing sector accounted for the highest direct and total waste generation effect. Looking at the costs of waste treatment, MRF provides the highest total economic activity per tonne treated. This proves that recycling provides a larger economic stimulus than the conventional option of landfill.