India is both a challenging and promising market for environmental management technologies. The current market size of the environmental management technology and service in India is estimated to be at $5.29 billion of which the solid and hazardous waste management sectors equal about $2.75 billion and $196 million, respectively. The environmental technology market has been growing at an average annual rate of 15 percent and is expected to increase to 20 percent within the next four years. Current estimates indicate the market for environmental products will increase to over $8 billion by 2010.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management technology is expected to comprise 25 percent of the total environmental products and service market.

Business opportunities for U.S. firms will be available in the solid/hazardous waste management including both consulting service and equipment and technology. There is also a need for numerous waste management technology systems from recycling and hazardous waste treatment to final disposal technology, especially with regard to landfill gas-to-energy technology and service. The bio-hazardous waste management sector is also an important market in India.

India has lagged behind in terms of adopting technologies for solid waste management. In particular, collection, treatment, and disposal of waste require urgent consideration. The private sector is now becoming a key player. Private sector participation can help upgrade technical and managerial expertise, increase efficiency in operation and maintenance, and improve customer services.

Solid waste management has become a major environmental issue in India. The per capita of MSW generated daily, in India ranges from about 100 g in small towns to 500 g in large towns. This indicates that the growth in MSW in our urban centers has outpaced the population growth in recent years. A substantial part of the MSW generated remains unattended and grows in the heaps at poorly maintained collection centers.

Best Prospects

Cost effective engineered landfill sites for municipal and hazardous wastes; maintenance of engineered landfills; transfer station upgrades; appropriate vehicles for street sweeping/ different types of wastes; cost effective technology for composting of organic waste, treatment of bio-medical and hazardous wastes; incinerators, microwave, autoclaves, etc for bio-medical waste treatment and disposal are the best prospect areas for U.S. firms. Project opportunities are also available in design and implementation of municipal solid waste management plans; waste to energy technologies including landfill gas to energy projects; resources recovery technologies; and bio-hazardous waste management technologies.

Prospective Buyers

Solid/Hazardous Wastes Rules 1989/2000 and 2003 require that all solid/ hazardous wastes be treated and disposed of in the manner prescribed by the rules. Major end users of solid/hazardous waste management facilities are industrial estates, hospitals, and private companies in the major waste generating sectors. The Ramky Group, India’s largest private solid waste management group, is currently expanding its operations and is interested in developing municipal solid waste management projects throughout India. Other end users are concentrated in the industrially progressive States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Incineration and secured hazardous waste landfills are the better-known waste management technologies. In India, there are more than 120 hazardous waste incinerators and eleven hazardous waste landfills, the majority of which are located in western India. Several private companies in the pharmaceutical, petrochemicals, and chemical industry sectors have installed incinerators to process their waste. Of the twenty Indian companies manufacturing incinerators, Thermax India Limited and Paramount Pollution Control Limited are the two Indian companies that standout in the local incinerators manufacturing field.

Trade Events

Enviro International 2007 ; October 10-11, 2007
Hotel Intercontinental, The Grand New Delhi
57 Khizarabad, New Friends Colony,
New Delhi -110025, India.
Tel: 91-11-26920256, Fax: 91-11-26920271
Fax: 91-11-26920271
E-mail: events@tafcon.com

Resources & Contacts

Ms. Meena Gupata, Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of
Environment & Forests; Paryavaran Bhavan;
CGO Complex; Lodhi Road; New Delhi - 110 003. (INDIA);
Tel: +91-11-24361147,24360605,24360570,24360519;
E-mail: envisect@nic.in; web site: http://envfor.nic.in

M. Ramachandran, Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of
Urban Development, Nirman Bhawan,
Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi – 110011;
Telephone: +91-11-23062377, Fax: 23061459;
Website: http://urbanindia.nic.in/moud/moud.htm
Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board,
Parivesh Bhawan, CBD-cum-Office Complex
East Arjun Nagar, New Delhi - 110 032;
Tel: +91-11-22303655 / 22305792; Fax: +91-11-22307078
E-mail: cpcb@nic.in
Website: http://www.cpcb.nic.in

Head Environment Management Division;
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)4A , 4th Floor, India Habitat Center
Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003
Tel: 91-11-24682230-35 / 24682228
Email: seema.arora@ciionline.org
Websites: www.ciionline.org; http://greenbusinesscentre.com

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Extracts from: “India Solid & Industrial Waste Management” October 2007, Published by US Commercial Service.