To run its Coimbatore plant on recycled pulp.
The paperboards and specialty papers division of the business conglomerate, ITC Limited, has set a target to double the domestic waste collection to 10,000 tonne a month in three years under its wealth-out-of-waste (WoW) initiative.
ITC has been successful in separating the paper from the waste and recycling it into paper pulp, the raw material for making paper. The increased waste collection will make the Coimbatore paper unit of the ITC self-sufficient in raw material.
According to Pradeep Dhobale, divisional chief executive, the company is able to get about 4,200 tonne paper from the 5,000 tonne waste that it collects every month.
The Coimbatore plant has a capacity of 1,20,000 tonne per year. “We will be able to make about 1,00,000 tonne paper from waste paper recycling,” he said, adding that this would reduce its dependence on imported pulp or green pulp. Typically, four tonne green wood is needed for making one tonne paper.
ITC pegged the cost of collection, segregation and moving it up the value chain and processing at Rs 7,500 a tonne. The waste paper used by ITC for its own commercial activities and other materials are sold to the recycling units.
ITC, as part of its WoW programme, provides special bags to put dry waste like paper, plastic and metals and arranges collection through outsourced agencies.
WoW is already operational in many southern cities and towns and operates through Ramky Group, which is into waste management.
The company plans to extend the programme to other cities and is targeting educational institutions as well, said B Jogarao, ITC vice-president (commercial).
ITC and Ramky would conduct a 'Wow' awareness programme on July 1 at Hyderabad calling it National Recycling Day.
