The Waste Hierarchy: The order followed by the Indian Chemical Industry to reduce industrial wastewater pollution

The chemical industry is one of the largest generator of industrial wastewater in India. There is a concerted effort by the Indian chemical industry to replace its traditional linear waste management system to a level of high circularity. The theory of circular economy gave rise to the waste hierarchy introduced in the EU Waste Framework Directive 2008. This study uses the framework of the waste hierarchy to analyze the practice of industrial wastewater management in India. We explore the order of the levels of the waste hierarchy adopted by the Indian chemical industry and investigate the drivers and barriers influencing it. This brings insight for upgrading industrial wastewater management in light of advanced technologies and transitioning towards a circular society.