How should we solve our waste problem? | S2E39

***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast speaks to Arun Murugesh of Saahas Zero waste on the seemingly insurmountable waste problem. From trying to understand the severity of the crisis to solving it with market participant and consumers, in this conversation we attempt to unravel this rubble. In this conversation, Arun Murugesh from Sahas Zero Waste discusses the pressing issues surrounding waste management in India, emphasizing the scale of the problem, the complexities of the waste value chain, and the critical roles played by the private sector and informal waste collectors. He highlights the challenges of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the need for a shift towards a regenerative economy. The discussion also touches on consumer behavior, the importance of recycling, and the potential for significant change driven by informed consumer choices. - Keywords waste management, recycling, circular economy, EPR, consumer choices, sustainability, informal sector, plastic waste, regenerative economy, environmental impact — Takeaways The waste management crisis is vast and complex. Data on waste generation is often unreliable and inconsistent. The private sector must take responsibility for waste management. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is currently ineffective. The informal sector plays a crucial role in waste recovery. Recycling processes are complicated, especially for plastics. Consumer choices can significantly impact waste management. A shift towards a regenerative economy is necessary. Behavioral changes in consumers can lead to better waste practices. The power of consumers can drive change in the industry. —— Sound Bites "Waste management is a reality we can't ignore." "The private sector plays a key role in waste management." "EPR has been very, very bad recently." ——— Chapters 00:00 The Scale of the Waste Management Crisis 03:04 Understanding the Waste Value Chain 05:57 The Role of Private Sector in Waste Management 09:13 Challenges of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) 12:06 The Informal Sector's Contribution 14:52 Recycling Complexities and Consumer Choices 18:00 Towards a Regenerative Economy 20:47 Behavioral Changes and Consumer Power 24:09 The Future of Waste Management in India ———— Stock video and picture credits to various contributors. All rights belong to respective owners. Show notes generated by Riverside AI. ————— Listen to other video-pods on this topic and subscribe to the channel Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/show/6EYcxIPGW0UQvmkk67Ox0x?si=efbf1c2c47d449be Apple Podcasts link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oorulabs-podcast/id1682407685 YouTube link: YouTube.com/@oorulabs Website: https://podcast.oorulabs.com Join this WhatsApp community to receive updates on OoruLabs Podcast https://chat.whatsapp.com/HquObSYDOFz5DXP6TEh07W