raditionally
the "Clean Technology" definition has been used for technologies
characterised by reduced greenhouse gas emissions and air, water and
land pollution. We can also observe a trend to define clean technologies
from the sustainability angle. We live in a world where the available
resources are finite. Therefore a major problem facing us today is how
to use nature’s resources employing sustainable consumption and
production (SCP) practices.
These practices aim to use
goods and services for meeting people’s needs while minimising the use
of natural resources. Recycling of waste materials is an integral
component of these SCP practices.
The role of MSMEs in the
economic and social development of our country is well established. They
form the ‘backbone of support’ for almost all the manufacturing and
agricultural sectors. They are also the highest employment generator in
the unorganised sector. The labour to capital ratio in these enterprises
is much higher than in other established industries.
While many MSMEs are highly
innovative like those in the electronics sector, a large number of them
have been established in the unorganised sector. With no formal access
to technological innovations, they are beyond the scope of development.
The MSME sector is also faced
with the rising issue of waste generation and its safe disposal. It was
earliear believed that the waste produced by small and medium
enterprises is of insignificant value. However recent trends in
technology show that all kinds of industrial and household wastes can be
turned into successful income generating resources.
The kitchen waste from a
household can be turned into organic manure. Poultry litter can be
reused to produce manure for crops or energy for industrial use. Plastic
waste can be recycled into new products like railway sleepers, walking
boards etc.
Technology and Action For Rural
Advancement (TARA) has been working on creating wealth out of waste in
an energy efficient and environment friendly manner. Manufacturing of
handmade paper, red clay bricks, stabilised soil blocks, pulverised ash
blocks, concrete roofing, walling and flooring materials by TARA uses
"waste to wealth" solutions. TARA technologies aim at maintaining and
regenerating natural ecosystems so that nature’s resources are used in
an efficient manner. The "waste to wealth" solutions concentrate on the
development of technologies for rural, urban and industrial applications
for the MSME sector. The two major approaches aim at: