Circular Economy of Waste | Dr. Binish Desai | TEDxGateway

Summary

The speaker uses a roll of toilet paper as a metaphor for the cycle of waste in nature, highlighting the issue of non-recyclability in modern materials. He discusses the inadequacy of current waste management practices, which often involve relocating waste rather than truly disposing of it. The speaker introduces an innovative solution: bricks made from industrial waste, which are stronger, larger, and cheaper than conventional bricks. These eco-friendly bricks have been used to build low-cost toilets and houses in rural India. The idea originated from a simple experiment with chewing gum and paper, leading to the creation of a lab that converts waste into eco-innovations. The speaker envisions a future where waste is utilized to create sustainable products and technologies, promoting a circular economy where waste becomes a valuable resource.

Takeaways

• 🌿 The speaker holds a roll of toilet paper as a symbol of the natural cycle of waste management that has been disrupted by human intervention and technology.
• 🔄 The speaker emphasizes that before human influence, everything in nature was recyclable, but modern materials have become too complex for nature to break down, leading to waste accumulation.
• 🗑️ The speaker criticizes the current approach to waste management, which involves merely relocating waste from one place to another instead of truly disposing of it.
• 📰 The misconception that paper is 100% recyclable is debunked, with the speaker pointing out that most paper ends up in landfills.
• 🇮🇳 India is highlighted as the sixth-largest waste producer, with a staggering amount of waste generated daily, equivalent to throwing 10,000 cars into landfills.
• 💡 The speaker introduces an innovative solution: bricks made entirely from waste, which are stronger, larger, and cheaper than conventional bricks.
• 🏭 The process of making these eco-friendly bricks is described as simple and replicable, using waste from various industries mixed with a special binder.
• 💡 The idea for these bricks originated from a childhood curiosity when the speaker discovered that paper could harden and be used as a building material.
• 🧪 The speaker has started a lab to convert waste into eco-innovations, creating economic solutions for waste from different industries.
• 🔄 The concept of a circular economy is promoted, where waste from one industry becomes a valuable resource for another, exemplified by various products made from waste.
• 🚀 The speaker envisions a future where waste is utilized to its fullest potential, even in space, and aspires for India to lead in providing zero-waste technologies.

Q & A

What does the speaker symbolize with the roll of toilet paper?

The speaker uses the roll of toilet paper to symbolize the natural cycle of waste management, highlighting how human and technological advancements have disrupted this cycle, leading to waste that nature can no longer break down.

What is the speaker's view on the current approach to waste management?

The speaker criticizes the current approach as merely relocating waste from one place to another instead of truly disposing of it, which is causing the environment to be overwhelmed with waste that Earth cannot handle.

Why is the speaker concerned about paper and newspapers after they are used?

The speaker is concerned because most people believe that paper is 100% recyclable, but in reality, much of it ends up in landfills, contributing to the waste problem.

What is India's ranking in terms of waste production?

India ranks as the sixth largest producer of waste, with 43 thousand industries producing 19,000 tons of waste every day.

How does the speaker describe the idea of using waste for creating bricks?

The speaker describes a process where waste from various industries is mixed with a special binder, molded into bricks, and naturally dried. These bricks are stronger, more durable, and cheaper than conventional bricks, and have been used to create low-cost toilets and houses in rural India.

What was the inspiration behind the speaker's discovery of the brick-making process?

The inspiration came from a childhood incident where a piece of paper hardened after a chewing gum got stuck on it. The speaker's curiosity led to further experiments, eventually leading to the creation and patenting of the first prototype of a brick made from waste.

What is the speaker's approach to converting waste into eco-innovations?

The speaker started a lab to convert waste into eco-innovations, creating economical solutions from waste produced by various industries. These solutions are then used for companies' CSR projects, generating a sustainable revenue model.

How does the speaker's lab contribute to creating a circular economy?

The lab creates products from waste, such as road papers from textile and metal manufacturers, soundproofing panels from craft mills, washable sanitary pads from cloth lint, furniture from human hair, and decorative items from paper waste, turning one person's trash into another's treasure.

What is the speaker's vision for India's role in sustainable waste management?

The speaker envisions India becoming a leading solution provider for zero-waste technologies, educating the world on sustainable waste management practices.

What personal anecdote does the speaker share from their time as an exchange student in the United States?

The speaker shares an anecdote where they were asked if Indians know what computers are, to which they sarcastically replied that they only make them, highlighting the need for education about India's contributions to the world.

What is the final message the speaker leaves the audience with?

The speaker reminds the audience of the roll of toilet paper that will soon become a brick on a toilet wall, emphasizing the endless possibilities with waste and the need for innovative solutions in waste management.