Innovation

When new buildings and civil engineering structures build and existing buildings and civil engineering structures are renovated or demolished, C&D materials generate. C&D materials often contain bulky, heavy materials such as concrete, wood, asphalt, gypsum, metals, bricks, glass, plastics, salvaged building components (doors, windows, and plumbing fixtures), and rock from clearing sites.

The C&D Waste processing has seven steps: First, the Primary segregation; then the Waste Primary screening; the waste is crushed, which is Primary Crushing; this step is often insufficient for the waste crushing since it is massive that needs secondary crushing. Post-crushing, secondary screening helps in the segregation of coarse & fine stuff. Then the dust removal process. Like sand, it's washed known as Sand washing, with two outputs of Sand & Silt and Clay.

These materials are collected, transported, and processed to manufacture value-added products like bricks, blocks, tiles, and pavers.

Massive construction plans rely heavily on raw materials such as sand, soil (for clay bricks), stone, and limestone (for cement). The extraction and production of which have a significant ecological impact. This impact can be reduced if we use recycled C&D materials for construction. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has allowed using concrete made from recycled material and processed C&D waste.

A significant proportion of construction waste can be recycled, reused, and brought back to construction to substitute naturally sourced material. This process demands a circular economy that can turn C&D waste into a resource. The process can help reduce energy intensity and environmental footprints of buildings and infrastructure. That's how EverEnviro is working towards SDG 12 and 9.

Inspiration

Mr. Jain said, “India produces roughly 150 million MT of Construction and Demolition Waste and recycles roughly 1-2% of that; there is a 98% gap which can be covered.” It is necessary to recycle construction demolition as it produces bricks, mortar, metals, concrete, plastic, steel wires, etc. So there should be a separate mechanism to segregate dry and wet waste to get a new product, aggregate, and send them to be used by the concrete industry. Further these can be used to make tiles, bricks, park benches, and blocks

He mentioned that “the same amount of recycled material will save us the same amount of natural resources. Otherwise, I need to mine out. I have to cut trees and cause environmental damage.”

He also pointed out that if there is no regulation- we throw the waste into landfills, which is costly and degrading. By this waste management- a large area of landfill is saved. Also, recycling reduces transportation costs, saving diesel, thus, reducing greenhouse emission gases.

And the inspiration continues, thirty-three percent of the waste generation can be avoided if architects design for waste mitigation during the pre-construction stage. It is encouraging that Swachh Survekshan 2021 has given more prominence and scoring points to the action taken on C&D waste.

Overall impact

Construction and Demolition waste management aims to reduce, reuse and recycle. Since its inception, the company had various projects, and currently, it is 30. By adopting waste management techniques company is targeting to reduce land degradation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce carbon footprint and promote a circular flow of materials.

Thirty-three percent of the waste generation can be avoided if architects design for waste mitigation during the pre-construction stage. It is encouraging that Swachh Survekshan 2021 has given more prominence and scoring points to the action taken on C&D waste.

In some states of India government has banned sand mining from local river beds, so using recycled sand is more cost-effective for the company than mining the sand.

In monetary terms, this is the most profitable vertical, and the company is still trying to optimize its costs and profits. Mr. Jain said, "Last year company generated a revenue of approx. 50 crores, and this year we are targeting 60 crores.” He also mentions that company has already invested in CapEx in crores in one of their plants. The company is looking to expansion of the products and induct new technology to increase the final yield percentage of the products.

Business benefit

Minerals, stone, sand, iron ore, aluminum, and wood are all in high demand as key building materials, and this growth is unprecedented. Waterbodies, green spaces, and public places in our cities are choked by mountains of concrete, brick, and metal waste from the building. When cities must cut their particulate pollution by 20–30% by 2024, toxic dust particles from the trash are poisoning the air.

A sizeable part of waste from the building can be recycled, used again, and brought back into construction as a replacement for naturally sourced materials. This process necessitates a circular economy capable of repurposing C&D waste as a resource. This process can help reduce energy intensity and environmental footprints of buildings and infrastructure.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) now permits concrete produced from recycled materials and treated C&D waste. The Construction and Demolition Waste Rules and Regulations 2016 have mandated the reuse of recycled material. Cities need to be well-prepared for this opportunity presented by the Swachh Bharat Mission and the C&D Waste Rules. All parties involved should accelerate the rules' implementation and the market's adoption of recycled resources.

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Social and environmental benefit

Mr. Jain has been in the industry for 25 years and has worked with major companies such as Ultratech Cement and Aditya Birla Group in various domains. Every time it happens to be a complete shift in his working style and operation. There are different roles, markets, and new customers for which he starts from scratch.

He believes in people and the right people because, he says," I am working with humans, not robots."

He believes in creating an atmosphere in the organization where everyone works from their heart, which means it is outcome-focused rather than input-focused. Employees’ personal needs are taken care of with learning and development, and employees are free to express themselves without fear. According to the environment, a change is happening in the organization, such as working from home.

While recruiting, he believes in the top three core values: Intensity, Passion, and Energy. He then again looks for the three qualities, namely: Curiosity, Hard work, and willingness to put in the effort, which indicates how well employees are willing to go the extra mile to learn and grow. He believes in the idea of adding value to each other and thus leading to the prosperity of the organization and then the nation as a whole. The organization believes in creating a respected and transparent working environment where all employees. "When there is transparency, passion, energy, no one can stop, and in my company, we are creating that positive environment," says Mr. Jain.

The company is pioneering Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste recycling facilities and benefitting society.

The company is planning to set up 14 compressed biogas plants in the country that will have a huge positive environmental impact and help accelerate the circular economy.

Interview

Anurag Jain, Vice President and Business Head

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