The challenges associated with waste planning in urban India were never easy. The ever growing population leading to urbanization, ultimately contributing to enhanced waste generation and unscientific handling of waste is degrading the urban environment and causing serious health hazards. Experts say that Solid waste management scenario in India is at least thirty years behind developed countries.
To take the country forward with innovative eco- friendly solutions emerged Noval Waste Management, which is committed to provide innovative and engineered solutions for communities, organization, and household to manage waste.
Problems worth Pondering
India is turning into a big garbage dump and, is also the third largest garbage generator in the world. The numbers are staggering and it may sound dangerous until we learn that 70% of that waste is untreated unlike the other big generators in the world. If at this rate landfills are filled then India will soon exceed the size of Mumbai and Bangalore. According to WHO, twenty-two types of diseases can be prevented by improving solid waste management scenario. Waste is an issue that goes far deeper than cosmetic appeal, affecting health and environment. It also reduces the availability of fertile land for future generations.
It is proven across multiple geographies that waste is a valuable resource. To the common eye, India has a dangerous problem of excessive untreated waste. But considering waste as a resource, smart investors see it as an immense opportunity.
Small Steps Impacting Significant Change
However, things are changing and are definitely changing for good. Much of the change can be attributed to Siva Sankar and his company, Noval Waste Management which strives to improve the current scenario of the world with its sustainable waste management model. This passionate environmentalist wanted to do something innovative and new rather than just being involved. He ended up starting Noval waste management in 2013 with the vision of developing global technology equivalents in India. Novals, aim to make waste management machinery that are eco-friendly and energy efficient, yet better in productivity.
More than academic learning, he credits the exposure gained from his peers and faculty at NIT and IIM for helping him in the journey so far. He equally attributes the share of his successes to the apt raising provided by his parents and the capable support he attained from his colleagues all the way through.
Perceived Risks & Hurdles
Humans always resist the change. They always had; validating the law of inertia! It usually takes decades for efficient waste management to become an integral part of any civic culture. Government must play its all-important role by positioning necessary government policies for it to become effective in the initial stages so that the communities do not perceive it with diminished importance. It is quite hard to believe that even in 2018, we’re witnessing the open burning of garbage at the heart of our biggest cities that too going unnoticed by many. This sends a very wrong message to the communities at large and makes them believe it is a less serious issue. The other large factor is consumer affordability. Because of the small market size and zero compliance requirements for waste management at-source in India (barring Mumbai & Bangalore), manufacturers are unable to develop products at a price affordable to most of the people. Effective government policymaking (which has been happening for a while now) and active implementation are factors integral to improving this scenario. Fortunately, the central & several state governments have been showing very positive intent to improve the existing waste management conditions. Hence, the future definitely looks promising as on date.
Empowerment of Employees
Instead of hunting for the prodigious talents, at Noval Waste Management, it is rather believes in empowering the employees. The preference is always given to an individual’s character and personality over his/her advanced professional skills while hiring as well as in the due course of work. It develops a much-needed sense of belongingness among the workforce. The employees get exposure to various environments and scenarios. It is highly ensured that no insecurity is bred within the organization. When people are good in all aspects and are empowered by the management, they most certainly surprise in ways that they learn, adapt and contribute to everything progressive even without any forced development program. As a result of these practices, the Novals have a 97% retention rate since their inception. It’s definitely an achievement to be proud of.
Peculiarities those ‘Stand-Out’
Though every waste management company tries to do their good bit – directly or indirectly – to the environment and to our society’s well-being, Novals have made a special place of their own, and very rightly so. In 2016, while many civic communities were not aware of proper waste management methods and were too reluctant or busy to spend much time with the effective process. Noval Waste Management launched a comprehensive service called ‘Green Lease’ which is a managed service model. For a nominal monthly fee and ZERO capital investment, they started offering comprehensive waste management services to bulk generators such as apartments, corporate organizations, hotels, tech parks etc. Many of them could also not afford the capital investment required on machinery.
The same year, they also developed two new models that use zero grid electricity. These are currently under patent process and regarded highly by some experts as the greenest technology globally in mechanized solid waste management. Novals are proud of their accolades & achievements, and interestingly they equally promote every other waste management company that comes with an innovative, sustainable and affordable eco-friendly solution.
Attaining sustainability: An Embraced Practice
Noval, believes that efficiency and eco-friendliness MUST GO hand-in-hand with eco-friendliness and environmental sustainability. Sustainability is at the heart of everything they do. There’s no point being a recycling company if they stray away from sustainability principles to manufacturing machines that helps the environment. Otherwise it’ll be like being a charitable, helpful soul during the day but a violent, brutal torturer at night! They cannot afford ill practices that’ll jeopardize their overall vision. After three years of intense research & development, the company has now perfected an in-house technology that helps them to making the most energy efficient organic waste recycling machines. It doesn’t end at how eco-friendly their machines are, in fact they have already planned efficient reuse purpose for their first batch of machines sold in 2014 with a lesser lifecycle that will become obsolete in 2024. Instead of dumping them, they have already encouraged their customers to return them for an incentive and they plan to overhaul over 90% of the machine to be reused as a useful material again. Novals, consider sustainability as a necessary culture, and not as compliance. And they go to lengths to ensure that everything they do is a reflection of that fact.
Feathers in the Cap
Noval Waste Management has come a long way since their inception. Talking in terms of numbers they have installed over 300 units across South and West India. In terms of innovative technology, they have started advancing since 2016. As on date, three new technologies are being tested for patent applications. Today, their machines divert more than 40,000 tons of solid waste from landfills every year. Some of the Noval’s latest machines are even rated amongst the most eco- friendly and efficient ones available globally. Further, several collaborations are also being discussed with some of India’s most elite and highly respected technical, scientific institutions to develop the next generation of affordable, eco-friendly recycling technologies.
Mapping the Road Ahead
Noval Waste Management is striving to create a diverse range of eco-friendly and energy efficient recycling technologies that are affordable and easy to operate. They are quite open to collaborating with like-minded experts and companies for achieving this objective. Novals have further aimed to make these products available at every region of India and at a price most can afford. They are already making strong efforts to establish efficient waste management systems as an integral part of all bulk generators at the planning stage itself! They have planned to set and implement a strong culture of segregation and recycling across Rural India using bottoms- up approach enabling them to create consistent livelihood opportunities related to waste management for people within their local communities across the country.
Source :-The 10 Most Valuable Waste Management Solutions Providers
Noval Waste Management: Trailblazing Techno-Environmental Innovations
