Stop the waste from burying us: State or society is usually blamed, but let’s look upstream at producers of waste

February 6, 2018
Article

Share

You cannot walk or drive more than a few metres in any Indian city without encountering mounds of rubbish. Even in our villages, you will find garbage billowing around fields, piling up along roads or even lining the forest floor. At many beaches, you are as likely to find your toes tickled by strands of plastic as by little fish.
It is no longer possible to look away.
India’s waste problem is gigantic, and with its economy growing steadily, it will be compounded manifold. Yet, our waste stream management has not even got off the ground.

You may also want to read

July 14, 2025
Interview

The New Indian Express | A ‘tail’ of the wild: Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani on her debut documentary

Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani dives into the very essence of her award-winning debut documentary Nilgiris – A Shared Wilderness, which is set to release on July 18, and its alarming reminder[...]

July 9, 2025
Article

The Indian Express | Rohini Nilekani Writes: Why Heat Action Plans must factor in access to ‘smart’ fabrics

Natural fibres have served India well – but climate extremes demand innovation in what we wear, especially for those who can’t escape the sun. The monsoon arrived early this year,[...]

June 5, 2025
Article

Hindustan Times | Rohini Nilekani writes: India’s biodiversity is a strategic advantage

Biodiversity markets are deepening, with a growing demand for high-quality carbon credits with biodiversity safeguards As India’s geopolitical future sways with the swings of the global political pendulum, it is[...]