A Circular Economy is a system where products are designed for durability, reuse, and recyclability, minimizing waste by keeping materials in continuous circulation through repairing, reusing, refurbishing, and recycling.
- Reduce: Minimize resource use
- Reuse: Extend product life
- Recycle: Convert waste to raw material
- Refurbish: Restore old products
- Recover: Extract energy/value from waste
- Repair: Fix instead of discarding
Government Steps Taken
- Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Waste segregation, recycling infrastructure
- Plastic Waste Management Rule: Ban on single-use plastics
- EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility): Producers are responsible for end-of-life disposal
- Make in India: Sustainable manufacturing practices
- 2022-23 Budget: Recognized sustainable growth & circular economy.
Source: The Hindu