Nitin Gadkari proposes turning garbage into value

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized the importance of monetizing waste to both safely dispose of it and generate revenue, suggesting that garbage should become so valuable that people vie for the right to acquire it. Speaking at an event organized by Akhil Bharatiya Sthanik Swarajya Sanstha, Gadkari highlighted the role of waste monetization in enhancing civic body revenue.

Gadkari shared, “In north India recently, we used a total of 80 lakh tonnes of garbage for the construction of highways. This helped to fill in the road base and also get rid of the huge garbage problem.”

He elaborated on the value of segregating waste, which increases the end product’s value. Gadkari provided examples such as plastic, metal, glass, and organic waste. He explained that plastic could be converted into crude petrol, which is then mixed with diesel up to 50 per cent, reducing the cost to around Rs 50 per litre and making it economically viable for use in tractors.

Discussing Nagpur’s initiatives in monetizing waste, Gadkari said, “In Nagpur, the civic body is earning Rs 300 crore annually by treating sewage and selling it to industries in the vicinity.”

Gadkari also focused on organic waste, noting its potential to create high-value products. He mentioned a project in Nagpur where organic waste is processed in a bio-digester to produce methane, which is then used to create biofuels.

The minister emphasized changing perspectives towards resources to generate wealth, concluding with, “Garbage should become valuable…so valuable that people clamour for the right to acquire it.”

Gadkari’s insights present a model for municipalities to consider, demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of rethinking waste management strategies. By adopting these methods, self-governing bodies can turn a potential problem into a profitable solution, as exemplified by the initiatives in Nagpur and northern India.