CSE Events

The best way to bring about change is to learn, and to apply that learning judiciously. The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), the world’s largest sanitation drive, has paved the way for India’s urban managers — local governments, civil society, industry partners, etc — to equip themselves with the capacity to understand and implement the nuances of circular economy in managing solid waste in an environmentally sustainable and financially...

Recent reports suggest that amount of plastic waste produced globally is set to triple, with less than 20 per cent of it being recycled by 2060. In 2022, India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Policy built on the principle of “polluter pays” to deal with the menace of plastic packaging waste. The last two years of the EPR regime...

Urban India produces over 1.5 lakh tonne of municipal solid waste every day, about half of which is biodegradable in nature. While treatment and processing of such a colossal quantity continues to be a challenge, it also offers an opportunity to local governments to create a strong value chain of treated products aligned with the principle of circular economy. Bio-CNG, a clean renewable fuel produced by converting organic...

India’s Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016, provide a robust set of legal and regulatory instruments, particularly for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Municipal bye-laws are meant to serve as the most important and primary of these legal instruments for operationalising the provisions of the SWM Rules. But their enforcement remains a concern. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has conducted an assessment of how these bye-laws are working...

Agra, known for its historical heritage, is a major footwear manufacturing hub, producing 9-10 lakh pairs daily and generating substantial pre-consumer waste that often pollutes open areas and drains. Immediate action from all stakeholders, including manufacturers and government authorities, is crucial for effective waste management. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently released a report at a consultation workshop, analyzing the footwear sector and its disposal practices....

Unlined and poorly designed dumpsites pose significant environmental and health risks, including greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. Recent efforts to bioremediate legacy waste have gained traction, particularly with the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 mandating Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to remediate existing dumpsites by 2023 and 2024, depending on population size. This initiative aims to address millions of tonnes of legacy waste in the coming years, with ULBs...

Plastic waste management is a significant global challenge, deeply embedded in our lives. While plastics are useful, their careless use threatens the environment. Recent efforts, including single-use plastic bans and extended producer responsibility, have gained traction, with the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 prioritizing plastic waste management. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently hosted a National Conclave to release its report on the plastic life cycle, gathering...

Methane, a potent short-lived climate pollutant, has more than doubled in atmospheric concentration due to human activities. It has a global warming potential 25 times greater than carbon dioxide and contributes to ground-level ozone, causing about one million premature deaths annually. In urban India, 160,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste are generated daily, with 50-60% being biodegradable, primarily disposed of in landfills, which are the third-largest source of...

Marine litter, a major consequence of the global solid waste crisis, sees plastics comprising about 60% of ocean debris. A 2020 Pew Trusts report estimates that 11 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the oceans annually, harming marine life. Nearly 80% of this debris comes from land-based sources, while 20% originates from marine activities like fishing. India, with its 7,517 km coastline and rich ecosystems, faces significant challenges,...

Marine litter remains a global challenge, with 8-14 million tonnes of plastic entering oceans annually, 80% from poorly managed land-based waste and 20% from waterbody activities. In India, with its 7517 km coastline and significant fishing industry, marine litter is a pressing issue. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) created the Coalition of Coastal Cities to foster policy dialogue on marine litter. Recently, CSE organized a 3-day...