This special occasion will mark the inauguration and visit of the Zero Waste Plant, reflecting the Institute's strong commitment to sustainable development, circular economy, and environmental stewardship.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT), Jais, cordially invites you to celebrate International Zero Waste Day on 30th March 2026 from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM at the RGIPT Jais Campus.
This special occasion will mark the inauguration and visit of the Zero Waste Plant, reflecting the institute's deep commitment to sustainable development, circular economy principles, and environmental stewardship.
Your gracious presence will not only enrich the event but also strengthen our shared commitment to the enduring principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Event Details
What we're working on
Design and development of an integrated Zero Waste Campus model that minimises landfill output and maximises resource recovery across all operations.
Research in biogas production, pyrolysis, and Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) to convert diverse waste streams into usable, clean energy.
Converting biogas plant by-products — digestate and slurry — into high-value bio-fertilisers that enrich agricultural soils and close the nutrient loop.
Pilot-scale systems for solid waste segregation and processing, enabling efficient sorting, composting, and downstream utilisation of waste fractions.
End-to-end wastewater treatment — from kitchen effluent through anaerobic digestion, mesh filtration, and pond-based secondary treatment to clean water.
Strategic partnerships that translate campus-scale innovations into real-world, scalable waste management and sustainability solutions.
Biocrude production via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of mixed waste (plastic waste and food waste) resulted in a yield of approximately 10 wt.% under optimized reaction conditions of 310 °C temperature, 70 bar pressure, 20 minutes reaction time, 5 wt.% of CaCO3 catalyst, and a water-to-waste ratio of 5:1 within the reactor. This mixed waste stream serves as a promising and sustainable feedstock for the generation of value-added energy products. In addition to biocrude, hydrochar is obtained as a solid biofuel, along with non-condensable gases as by-products. Both biocrude and hydrochar have significant potential for applications in the energy sector.
Biogas yield enhancement was achieved through membrane-based upgrading of raw biogas (primarily CH₄ and CO₂ along with other trace gases and impurities) using a multi-stage separation approach to improve methane concentration and overall fuel quality. The raw biogas was passed through a 3-tier membrane system, where CO₂ and other undesirable components selectively permeated as the rejected stream, while CH₄ was retained as the enriched gas fraction. The implementation of a multi-pass configuration significantly improved separation efficiency, leading to enhanced methane purity and increased effective biogas yield. The continuous removal of CO₂ and impurities reduced dilution effects and improved the calorific value of the final gas stream. The upgraded methane was subsequently collected and stored, with hydrogen (H₂) observed as a minor byproduct. Overall, the process results in a substantial increase in usable biogas output by enriching CH₄ content, thereby improving energy efficiency and suitability for practical applications.
Solid plastic waste was effectively converted into value-added utility products such as plastic mats, tables, stools, and other molded items through controlled thermal and mechanical processing techniques. The collected plastic waste, primarily consisting of low-value and non-recyclable fractions, was subjected to segregation, cleaning, and size reduction, followed by heating under optimized temperature conditions to achieve softening and moldability. The processed material was then shaped using casting and compression techniques to produce durable and functional products. This approach not only reduces plastic waste accumulation but also transforms it into economically useful materials with practical applications. Additionally, the developed products exhibit good mechanical strength, durability, and resistance to environmental degradation, making them suitable for long-term use. Overall, this method provides a sustainable pathway for plastic waste management by converting waste into valuable utility items while minimizing environmental impact.
Wastewater treatment using a microbial enrichment approach integrated with nanofluid and plant-derived extract resulted in highly efficient pollutant removal under controlled conditions of near-neutral pH (≈6.5–7.5), ambient temperature (≈25–30 °C), and 24–48 hours incubation time. The optimized system, comprising activated sludge, nanofluid, and plant extract, demonstrated superior performance, achieving ~100% turbidity removal (from 8–9 NTU to ~0 NTU), >99% reduction in total dissolved solids (500–1500 ppm to ~5 ppm) and conductivity (1800–2200 µS/cm to ~7 µS/cm), and >99% removal of suspended solids (<30 mg/L to ~0.008 mg/L). Additionally, a significant improvement in dissolved oxygen was observed (from ~1.2–2.2 mg/L to ~7.9 mg/L), along with substantial reductions in organic load, with COD decreasing from <200 mg/L to ~5.1 mg/L (~97–98%) and BOD from <30 mg/L to ~0.8 mg/L (~95–97%). The synergistic interaction between microbial metabolism, nanoparticle-assisted adsorption, and phytochemical stabilization enhances pollutant degradation and water purification efficiency. Along with treated water, biomass (sludge) is generated as a byproduct, which can be further utilized for energy recovery or soil applications. Overall, this integrated nano–bio–phytochemical system presents a sustainable and effective approach for advanced wastewater treatment and water reuse.
This integrated circular bioeconomy system demonstrates how agricultural and food wastes can be transformed into value-added products such as biogas, vermimanure, pelletized organic manure, and nutrient-enriched soil amendments. It reflects a sustainable waste-to-resource approach combining bioenergy and biogas technology, biotransformation, and organic waste valorisation for renewable energy generation and environmental management. The process supports soil health, plant growth promotion, and circular agricultural systems through field application and crop evaluation. It also aligns with research themes in nanobiotechnology, metagenomics, microbial resource utilization, and sustainable environmental biotechnology, with the broader goal of developing scalable technologies for soil restoration, climate change mitigation, and integrated waste-to-energy systems.
Purpose of the Event
Create awareness on zero waste principles
Encourage technology-driven solutions for waste management
Promote responsible consumption and disposal practices
Inspire collective action towards a cleaner and sustainable future
The programme will feature insightful addresses by the Hon'ble Director, RGIPT, Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, and distinguished speakers who will share their perspectives on innovative waste management practices and sustainable technologies. The event will culminate in the landmark inauguration of the Zero Waste Plant.
Director
RGIPT
Chairman
UPPCB
Executive Director
HAL - Korwa
CMD
PRESPL
Programme Coordinators