Waste & Effluent Management

Waste

GRI Standards

Conscious waste management has become pivotal for every business as it not only impacts the ecology but also has a hit on business growth due to its management cost. We realise that our operations generate a significant quantity of waste; both hazardous as well as non-hazardous and therefore we adopt industry best practices and set challenging goals for effective waste management. As a sustainability objective, KNPL took an incremental target of 5% reduction of our Specific Hazardous Waste Generation (SHWG) year-on-year.

Thrust Areas: For Judicious Waste Management

• Dedicated storage for category-wise waste in scrap yard across all plants
• Systematic tracking of the quantity of waste generated and waste disposed
• Ensure proper waste disposal – diverting waste away from landfill
• Imbibing the principle of 3R – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
• Sensitisation of employees on waste handling methods

Waste Generated

In FY 2021-22, our organisation-wide total waste generation was 7,441 MT, of which 919 MT was hazardous waste, 4.72 MT was E-waste, 0.07 MT was bio-medical waste 1479.3 MT was contaminated containers waste (barrels, tins, drums), and the balance was non-hazardous waste.

Specific Hazardous Waste Generation for our manufacturing facilities is accounted as 2.47 Kg/KL of FG for FY 2021-22.

Hazardous waste generated due to our operations mainly includes distillation residue, Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) sludge, paint sludge, dirty resin, contaminated barrel/tins, filter cartridge, and contaminated cotton waste.

Method of Calculation:

1. Manufacturing Facilities - Specific Hazardous Waste Generation is ratio of hazardous waste generated in Plants to Production of Finished Goods during specified period.
2. Organisation-wide -Specific Hazardous Waste Generation is ratio of hazardous waste generated in Plants and R&D centre to Production of Finished Goods during specified period.

Waste Disposal

At KNPL, waste is separated and then sent to authorised Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) for disposal, reuse, or recycling in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Through the implementation of coprocessing of hazardous waste to cement kilns, we have been successful in diverting the majority of our waste from landfill.

We were able to turn 13.24 MT of high-quality manure, which was utilised internally for gardens and horticulture, from 24.55 MT of organic canteen and food waste by bio composting treatment process.

This has not only improved how we handle organic waste but also helped us cut carbon emissions, lessen methane production, and divert garbage from landfills.

Waste Diverted From Disposal

Reusable cartridge in the filtration process

Cleaning solvents of all major resins are reused in the next batch of same resins

In paint section, system controls have been implemented to ensure reuse of paint filled in part filled cans in the next compatible batch of paint

In operations, cleaning solvent is reused after distillation process again for equipment cleaning

Paint Pigging wash water reuse

TiO2 recovery through de-dusting

Reusing drums and barrels

Take-back mechanism with suppliers supplying raw materials in plastic bags

Waste Directed to Disposal

Barrels/Tins are recycled through authorized vendors

Plastic waste, corrugated boxes and metal scrap generated within factory premises is recycled through authorized vendors

Raw materials procured in recyclable packaging material

E-waste sent through buy-back programme

E-waste sent through buy-back programme

At KNPL, we have taken concerted efforts to reduce our plastic waste generation through our manufacturing facilities. Through rigorous due-diligence process and constant communication, we encourage suppliers to substitute plastic with alternate materials or implement a take back mechanism. During the reporting period, we ensured zero procurement and usage of packing material less than the thickness limit in microns set by the regulatory bodies.

Extended Producer Responsibility

We, at KNPL, have initiated our efforts to meet the targets laid under EPR and tackle the challenge of eliminating plastic waste from the ecosystem to the maximum extent. We are currently in the process of our registering ourselves on the newly launched centralised e-portal by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). We have also associated with external agency to ensure diligent collection, treatment and disposal of postconsumer plastic waste in line with the EPR target and maximum traceability.

Keeping Our Waters Clean

Zero Liquid Discharge: Our two-way approach of Reduction at source and Reuse has enabled us to be a Zero Liquid Discharge Organisation.

Installed dedicated treatment facilities for domestic and industrial effluents across all our plants

Our industrial effluents are treated in Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and then passed through Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Multi Effect Evaporator (MEE)

All plants are equipped with in-house laboratory to monitor the quality of effluent to ensure compliance with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) norms