Government of Andhra Pradesh Partners with Paripatram to Advance Circular Economy Initiatives

Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, 26th May 2025 – The Government of Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB), hosted a two-day Circular Economy Workshop on May 22–23, 2025, at Hotel Fortune Murali Park, Vijayawada.

The workshop brought together over 200+ key stakeholders from central and state government departments, industry, recycling networks, urban local bodies, and the informal sector to build a shared understanding of circular economy pathways tailored to Andhra Pradesh.

Organized under the theme “Adopting the Circular Economy Concept in Andhra Pradesh,” the workshop aimed to promote integrated thinking across regulatory, operational, and business dimensions of resource recovery. Paripatram Solutions served as the Knowledge Partner, playing a pivotal role in curating technical content and facilitating cross-sectoral collaboration.

The event was inaugurated by Chief Guest Sri G. Anantha Ramu, Special Chief Secretary, Environment, Forest, Science & Technology Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. He was joined by Dr. P. Krishnaiah, Chairman, APPCB; Sri Komma Reddy Pattabi Ram, Swachh Andhra Corporation; Shri Polamreddy Dinesh Reddy, APEMCL; Sri B.S.S. Prasad, Chairman, SEIAA, AP; Smt. H.D. Varalaxmi, Regional Director, CPCB – Southern Zone; and other key dignitaries including Shri Sanjay Mehta, President, MRAI; Shri Gautam Mehra, Director, Paripatram; and Sri Saravanan, Member Secretary, APPCB.

The workshop focused on rethinking waste not as a burden, but as a resource. Discussions centred around practical strategies to implement circular economy principles and develop frameworks across major waste streams. Participants engaged in interactive sessions covering urban waste, industrial and hazardous waste, e-waste and batteries, end-of-life vehicles, construction and demolition (C&D) waste, and circular materials recovery.

Key themes included strengthening source segregation in cities, expanding decentralized composting and material recovery facilities, and integrating informal waste workers into structured livelihoods. For industrial and hazardous waste, calls were made to improve tracking mechanisms, enable safe co-processing in cement kilns, and promote cleaner production practices.

In the realm of e-waste and battery management, participants highlighted the need to build robust collection ecosystems, expand formal dismantling capacity, and address the emerging challenge of managing end-of-life solar panels. Sessions on automotive and C&D waste explored the potential of recycling markets for scrap metal, tyres, rubber, and gypsum, and the development of digital systems to track material flows.

A recurring message across all sessions was the need for institutional coordination, digital traceability, and market development for secondary materials. Participants also emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships and aligned policy frameworks to scale up circular economy practices.

The workshop reaffirmed Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to embedding circularity into its developmental strategy. It embraced the P4 model as espoused by Hon’ble Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, positioning the People as key stakeholders in building a state-wide circular economy partnership.

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board was commended for its leadership in driving this multi-stakeholder initiative, while Paripatram Solutions was acknowledged for its technical expertise and facilitation support as the Knowledge Partner.

As Andhra Pradesh moves towards a sustainable and resource-efficient future, this workshop marks a significant milestone in aligning policies, people, and practices toward a circular, zero-waste, circular economy model.