IPCA, together with TERI School of Advanced Studies, works as a think tank in the field of waste management, environment and sustainable development. Through research, training, publications and the media, IPCA turns knowledge into practical solutions for governments, corporates and communities.
Key Activities
IPCA provides technical consultancy to help organisations improve their ESG performance, reduce carbon emissions and meet BRSR and other regulatory reporting requirements. It offers research-led solutions for material recycling, waste treatment, EPR compliance, CSR and environmental risk management, and helps corporates improve their brand reputation, profits and business resilience. IPCA also carries out environmental, water and carbon accounting through audits, analysis of research data and decision-making tools, and runs training and capacity building programmes.
Training Programmes
Training of trainers for empowering change makers: Residents’ welfare associations and citizen groups can be strong ambassadors of change in their communities. IPCA trained select members on the basics of waste management, policy frameworks, and the processes of waste collection, segregation and processing. The sessions also cleared common misconceptions that come up when working to get fellow community members to segregate waste, reduce waste and consume sustainably.
Training on waste management systems, operations and maintenance: IPCA organised an in-depth training for government officials on how waste management systems work. It covered sectoral approaches, operational models, on-ground processes and regulatory compliance, along with a field visit to a waste management facility. Participants took part in interactive classroom sessions led by experts and gained first-hand insight into operations, workflows and best practices.
Life Cycle Assessment: IPCA also conducted a training programme on the fundamentals and applications of Life Cycle Assessment, bringing together participants from academic institutions, corporates and other sectors.
Research and Consultancy
IPCA studies waste management projects on the ground and turns the findings into clear recommendations that can be put to use.
It has monitored public-private partnership projects for the collection, transport, processing and final disposal of municipal solid waste in city zones, using a scientific sampling method and a daily and monthly evaluation matrix. It has assessed the social, environmental and economic impact of CSR initiatives that turn recycled plastic waste into reusable products, including the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the health benefits.
IPCA has also worked on assessing and restoring water bodies at heritage sites, with technical studies of water quality and measures such as redesigned inflow channels and better groundwater recharge. It has estimated the carbon emissions avoided through decentralised organic waste management and developed a toolkit that communities and trusts can use easily. In addition, it has assessed the impact of recycled plastic school desks given to government schools, looking at classroom comfort, student learning and environmental benefits, and has developed a method to estimate the social return on investment.
Publications
IPCA’s research is published in national and international journals on subjects such as the economic value of ecosystem services, urban water utilities, sustainability assessment of surface water bodies, water audits in industry, and sustainability in municipal solid waste management. IPCA has also published a policy brief on advancing and integrating waste management and health, and a handbook on setting up and operating Material Recovery Facilities for solid waste in cities and towns.