Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said that India has been a key player in promoting the efficient waste management system in the world.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has played a key role at the international platform to develop the sense of waste management and material cycles. Now we need a directional change and positive approach for making a bigger impact,'' he said.
The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the fourth 3R International Scientific Conference on Material Cycles and Waste Management' on Wednesday. The conference focuses on promoting techniques of the waste management and spread the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3R) principles.
Delegates from Japan, Korea and Germany are participating in the three-day conference, organized by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP).
Chemical and Fertilizers Minister Anant Kumar pointed out that about 4,500 urban areas in the country generate 55 million ton of waste every year out of which only one million ton is converted into compost which ideally should be 5.5 million tonnes annually. For the first time, he said, the Modi government was giving subsidy for making compost from waste and a 50 kg bag of compost would cost only Rs. 75 for farmers.