GMA LeaderTalk on Sustainability

Goa Management Association held a LeaderTalk on Sustainability in Waste Management on 21 November 2024 at the Internationa Centre Goa.

Mr Krishnan Komandur, CEO, Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative, addressed the assembled members and the gathering and spoke about Sustainability in Waste Management – Past, Present and Future.

Chairman, Mr Deepak Bandekar, welcomed the gathering and introduced Mr Krishnan and his work before inviting him to deliver the LeaderTalk.

Mr Krishnan laid light on the practical aspects of the sustainability crisis, explained sustainability and the challenges in waste management, proposed solutions, and shared best practices and cases.

He highlighted the importance of preserving natural resources and mitigating environmental harm for future generations. He described the global sustainability crisis driven by overconsumption, leading to pollution, resource depletion, and waste management challenges. Waste generation, particularly in India, has reached alarming levels, with most recyclable waste being improperly handled and sent to landfills due to reliance on informal systems lacking technology and safety measures.

He emphasised solutions like reducing, reusing, and recycling resources, promoting conscious consumption, and adopting scientific waste processing methods such as biogas production and waste-to-energy technologies. He gave examples of successful practices in countries like Japan and Sweden, where minimal waste reaches landfills.

He also shared his experiences working in the field for 30 years, and about the Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative, which employs innovative technologies and community engagement to address waste management issues.

He concluded his talk by stressing the need for collective responsibility in waste management. It calls for citizens, communities, and governments to collaborate, innovate, and take action to ensure a sustainable future, as the state of waste management directly impacts environmental and public health.

Effective waste management is integral to sustainability. Collaborative efforts between governments, communities, and individuals can ensure a positive environmental impact and align with global sustainability goals.

In the end, Mr Krishnan responded to several questions, comments and suggestions from the gathering on the topic and way forward in engaging the larger community and citizens in creating sustainable practices in waste management, both at the domestic and societal levels.

Mr Rajesh Mehrotra, Vice Chairman, summarised the talk and proposed a vote of thanks at the end.