Setting up of CEDAR Centre (C&D Engineered Decentralized Action & Recycling)
Principal Investigator
Prof. Surender Singh
Objective
- Establish small recycling plants at intermediate locations, particularly in areas generating around 10-20 tons of waste daily, Recycle the entire waste generated inside the campus so that no waste is required to be transported, Produce sustainable products from recycled waste for in-house applications such as road construction and parking zones, Extract value-added products from waste rather than only keeping the environment clean, thereby boosting the economy of the project, creating livelihood opportunities and conserving valuable land for other productive uses, Reduce the burden on natural resources and, if processed properly, eliminate the need for natural stones and sand in infrastructure construction, Explore alternative sources of natural materials for various civil engineering applications, Ensure true circularity in the C&D sector by combining decentralized waste processing with the manufacture of sustainable products
Description
- CEDAR is a decentralized construction and demolition waste recycling and research centre at IIT Madras, sized for small generators producing around 10-20 tons of waste daily. It will recycle the entire waste stream generated inside the campus with no transportation required, converting it into sustainable products such as paver blocks, 3D-printed elements and road materials for in-house use, and will serve as a testing, training and pilot-scale demonstration hub for circular economy models replicable across India.
Impact
- Zero-transportation of waste, with the proposed lab able to recycle the entire waste generated inside the campus, In-house utilization of sustainable products from recycled waste for road construction, parking zones and similar applications, Reduction in landfilling by diverting significant C&D waste from dumping sites, Reduced carbon emissions from virgin aggregate extraction and transportation through decreased reliance on natural resources, Promotion of circular economy through material reuse, aligning with India's sustainability goals and Net Zero targets, Skill development through training of workers and students in waste handling and sustainable construction practices, and job creation in the recycling sector, Community development by demonstrating decentralized circular economy models replicable by municipalities, campuses and industrial townships across India, Rural applications where the technologies developed are adapted for low-cost housing, village roads, community centres and sanitation infrastructure, Pilot scale demonstrations, a testing and certification hub for recycled products, and industry linkages with municipal bodies, startups, construction firms and government agencies