Sustainability
Inclusion of Informal Sector
- India constitutes about 10% of the total waste pickers globally, which equals nearly 15 lakh persons who alone are in the job of picking up waste.
- By 2026, over 50% of India’s population is expected to live in urban areas, leading to an exponential growth in the quantity of waste generated.
- 3-4% of India’s Greenhouse gases originate from inadequate waste management. Without the informal sector, this number would likely have been higher.
All the above are just a precursor to where we are headed in terms of the effort that is being put in, and will be required, with the exponential rise in e-waste. There are many more reasons and advantages to back the inclusion of the informal sector, as there are challenges too.
The informal sector of the waste management system, those who work at the ground level andare responsible for collecting, sorting, storing and trading various kinds of scrap, form a very significant role in the management of waste. That makes education, awareness,empowerment and inclusion of the informal sector in urban plans of e-waste recycling necessary. To ensure the same, Attero is developing and empowering the informal sector of waste-pickers for inclusive growth by entrusting them to be responsible e-captains, driving growth and sustainability.
CLEAN e-INDIA is one such Attero Initiative that is an integrated e-waste Consumer Take-Back Program to help ensure organized collection, management and recycling of the electronic waste responsibly and sustainably. This initiative connects stakeholders across the value chain including individual & bulk consumers, waste pickers and aggregators. To amass e-waste efficiently and manage end-of-life electronics economically and sustainably.
Economic Sustainability:
This focuses on conserving the natural resources that provide inputs for economic production, including both renewable and exhaustible resources.
Environmental Sustainability:
Here, the emphasis is on maintaining life support systems such as the atmosphere, soil, and ecosystems. These systems are essential for economic production and human life itself.
Social Sustainability:
This aspect considers the human effects of economic systems. It includes efforts to eradicate poverty, combat inequality, and ensure social equity.
In 1987, the United Nations defined sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” 1. As concerns about climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution grow, the world increasingly embraces sustainable practices and policies. Businesses, governments, and investors commit to reducing environmental footprints, conserving resources, and promoting a greener future. However, skeptics caution against “greenwashing,” where companies mislead the public about their environmental efforts 2.
Remember, sustainability is not just a buzzword; it’s a vital concept for our planet’s well-being and the generations to come.