Godrej Sustainability Report

CASE STUDY Recycling Of Welding Flux Waste generation and waste disposal are issues that are becoming increasingly prominent in the environmental arena both from a policy perspective and in the context of delinking analysis. The challenge at hand was huge quantity of welding flux that was being generated from short blasting and welding activities at process equipment division. The waste being generated was being disposed of in the landfills due to lack of other disposal or re-use mechanisms. The yearly flux waste generation is approximately 360 MT. Environment Engineering Services (EES) department in co-ordination with process equipment division and in consultation with various stakeholders took up the initiative to check the recyclability of waste submerged arc welding flux. Accordingly, 500 kg of flux sample was collected and sent for analysis at QA lab. The flux waste was crushed and feasibility of using that crushed, segregated and sieved flux in construction block was checked. The block manufactured using this flux was tested in QA lab. On obtaining positive results, the recyclability and reusability of this flux was informed to the process equipment division. The division has now started segregating the flux waste at source and it is being used in blocks manufacturing at Godrej Construction’s Recycled Concrete Block (RCB) plant in Vikhroli, Mumbai. Some of benefits of using this technology are as follows: • Annually, 360 MT flux wastes is now recycled instead of being landfilled • Savings incurred by using the technology – INR 10.8 Lakh • Easy source of raw material to RCB plant • Reflecting G&B’s commitment to ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ CASE STUDY Recycling Of Paint Sludge Paint sludge consists of many toxic substances hence its correct disposal is important to protect the environment and safeguard public health. G&B is particular about disposal of paint sludge; however, the state pollution control board does not provide its consent for treatment and disposal of sludge through incineration. Also, the procedure of incineration has high costs involved. Therefore, to address both the challenges, G&B decided to adapt recycling of paint sludge, thus, focusing on circular economy. Not only the Company wants to conserve resources but also ensure fulfilment of 'zero waste to landfill'. Post receiving consent from state pollution control board permitting the disposal of paint sludge through recycling, G&B started sending paint sludge generated from businesses such as security solutions, precision engineering, material handling and Interio for recycling from June 2017. As an outcome of the above practise, G&B could achieve the following: • ~100 MT of paint sludge diverted from incineration • Conservation of resources • Shift towards circular economy • Presently, rate of recycling per kg paint sludge is INR 11 which results in a saving of INR 19 per kg i.e. an annual saving of INR 19 lakh 48