TCS - TATA Sustainability Group

TCS

TCS Campuses lead the way in

Plastic Waste
Management

TCS campuses of Hyderabad and Gandhinagar, the workplace for thousands of associates and vendors, generated a significant volume of waste, with plastic waste being a major concern. At Hyderabad, the challenge lay in the disposal of black and soft plastics – which have a low weight-to-volume ratio, are difficult to recycle due to low thickness and lack of availability of reliable recyclers. At Gandhinagar, it was the disposal of cooling tower films that posed an environmental challenge. Recognizing the need for a sustainable solution, TCS embarked on a remarkable project to tackle these plastic waste streams. The project centered around the core principles of "Reduce" and "Recycle," aiming to minimize plastic waste generation and ensure its environmentally sound disposal.

Hyderabad Campus

In Hyderabad, the project team focused on reducing the use of soft plastics, such as thin film plastics, in the kitchen and canteen operations. Butter paper replaced plastic film wrappings for bakery items, and the use of thin film plastics was completely eliminated in in-house kitchens. Additionally, black plastic waste, previously sent to landfill, was segregated from the mixed waste stream and stored in dedicated areas to be sent for recycling through an approved partner

The Hyderabad campus achieved 100% collection, segregation and disposal of an estimated 700 kg of black plastic waste. By moving away from thin film packaging in its kitchens, the campus avoids 15 kg of thin film waste from being generated every month.

Garima Park, Gandhinagar

At Garima Park, Gandhinagar campus, after careful analysis to check recyclability of cooling tower films, the plastic waste was diverted for recycling through a competent third-party vendor. An on-site shredding machine was deployed to reduce the waste volume and optimize transport related emissions. The campus also implemented additional measures, such as replacing plastic water bottles with glass jars/bottles and waste segregation practices for other daily waste, channeling it for recycling or co-processing.

Dry waste was taken to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) operated by NEPRA, a SPCB authorized waste collection agency. Here, the waste was sorted and further segregated based on type. The recyclable fraction was sold to recyclers, while the non-recyclable waste was channeled to cement plants as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) or Alternative Fuel & Raw Material (AFR). This model not only contributed to sustainability but also provided inclusive employment opportunities for women and economically weaker sections.

TCS Garima Park campus diverted 9,000 kg of plastic from the landfill and was recognized by the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) for sending zero organic waste to landfill and utilizing it all to produce organic compost.