Do you know India is one of the leading producers of plastic waste in the world next to the US and EU? Above that, the problem is not the waste being produced, rather the concern is ineffective waste management. It is the improper collection, disposal, and recycling of waste in India that causes major issues. 

According to a report by the CPCB in 2021-2022, India produces approximately four million tons of plastic waste annually but unfortunately, only a quarter of the water is treated or recycled. The rest ends up in landfills or disposed of unsustainably.

In 2021-2022, the demand for plastic in India reached 20.89 million tonnes which is expected to rise exponentially by 2030. In such a scenario, industries have the responsibility to adopt sustainable practices that reduce waste and pollution through innovative solutions. 

One of the companies that has come forward to collect and recycle plastic waste is Ambuja Cements. The company, through its CSR drive, is taking significant steps to educate the people of Vadnagar village in Gujarat’s Somnath district on recycling and treating plastic waste and saving the environment. Ambuja Cements and the CSR team are promoting sustainable waste management at the place.

The Initiative

Ambuja Cements belongs to the Adani Group and is one of India's leading cement and building material firms. The company plays a key role in sustainable practices through its CSR initiatives that aim to conserve the environment. The company also participates in various CSR activities to support the community through education, health, employment, and skills development.

Ambuja Cements, along with its CSR team, is playing an active role in plastic waste management in Vadnagar village, Gujarat. This is a part of the Lighthouse Initiative (LHI) which is a collaboration between the private and public sectors in India started by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. The LHI is set to be active in 15 states across 75 Gram Panchayats. 

Among these, Vadnagar is the first village to implement the LHI project effectively with the support of Ambuja Cements. The company has supported the villagers in collecting house-to-house waste and aggregating it appropriately. 

It has also provided the required infrastructure to help villages collect and manage waste effectively. The collected waste is then reused by Ambuja Cements as an alternative fuel at its plant in Ambujanagar.

Efforts

Ambuja Cements had joined the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission – Garbage Free’ created by the Prime Minister to ensure sustainable plastic waste management (PWM) through community involvement in Gujarat. The company played a sincere role in reducing plastic packaging waste from the state in several ways. 

The company has adhered to the EPR or Extended Producer Responsibility guidelines in India for hassle-free sustainable PWM and compliance with environmental regulations. The CSR team of Ambuja Cements made sincere efforts to successfully conduct the waste management program in Vadnagar village. 

The team and the village's gram panchayat mobilized the local community and gave them charge of managing plastic waste. They formed a Self-Help Group (SHG) of waste collectors or rag pickers from the villagers and gave them the duty. The SHG formed a crucial role in collecting and segregating the plastic waste door to door and handover the waste to the company for recycling and reusing.

In addition, the CSR team of Ambuja Cements also educated the rag pickers on solid and liquid along with plastic waste management. The team conducted meetings and awareness programs to make people as well as SHG about improved practices of waste segregation. 

The team also taught villagers about behaviour change, community development, awareness activities, skills development, and communication. The company has also provided the necessary infrastructure to the village required for effective waste management. 

The efforts made by Ambuja Cements created livelihood sources for the community members. The scheme has empowered sustainability by promoting community engagement.

Impact Created 

Involving the community of Vadnagar village in plastic waste management by Ambuja Cements has resulted significantly. The program has reduced the plastic burden on the environment in the village to a great extent. It has created a plastic carbon footprint-free environment in the village. 

The sustainable plastic waste management drive by Anbuja Cements and its CSR team has also created a livelihood for the community involved in Vadnagar village. It has created jobs, especially for the rag pickers and other communities in the village, raising their economic conditions and livelihood status. 

Vadnagar village has become a perfect example of plastic waste management under the (SBM-G) Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen phase -2. Until now, over 2500 kg of plastic waste has been collected and sent to the Ambuja Cements plant for reuse and sustainable disposal. With this, the village has reduced the environmental pollution in the region. 

The reduced carbon footprint has lessened the environmental degradation and contamination in the village. This has reduced the unnecessary plastic burden on the environment. Sustainable waste management has also conserved the natural resources in and around the village which is good for the environment. 

The great step taken by Ambuja Cements has motivated many other corporations also to come forward and implement sustainable waste management through community engagement.

Way Forward

The initiative of waste management in Vadnagar village has shown Ambuja Cements' dedication towards the environment and social welfare.  This has positioned the company as a market leader in community welfare and sustainable management. 

The team’s relentless efforts have formed the landscape of sustainable development that has benefitted the village community and surrounding environment. 

The company will continue the program and expand it in other villages across Gujarat. This shows that rural waste management will remain a base for the company’s vision and mission of achieving community empowerment and environmental well-being. 

Apart from this, Ambuja Cements will also continue to participate in activities such as education, women empowerment, health, and skill development that will benefit society, especially the underprivileged sections. The company’s CSR team is always keen to take part in social welfare activities and effortlessly work to attain the aim.