Energy & economics linkages in waste management

The energy required for transporting waste to recycling industries and manpower requirement for segregating materials at times can make economics for recycling of low value products unsustainable. As a result, a lot of low value mixed paper and lightweight plastics may end up in the environment. There is an urgent need that the energy required to recover valuables from waste in cities is reduced through citizen engagement. Also, recycling hubs needs to be established closer to the city centres and a support for market development of recycled products should be provided by the government to make recycling of even lower value products feasible. Simultaneously, more material recovery facilities within urban clusters with integrated informal sector workers should be established, uplifting social and economic status of the workforce and reducing environmental burden of cities.