The Kotak School of Sustainability at IIT Kanpur hosted a national conference titled "Life of Waste: Experiences and Innovations with Solid Waste Management in India," bringing together academics, civil society organizations, and policymakers to discuss sustainable waste management models, technological interventions, and policy frameworks.

The event featured three thematic panels and the first panel focused on field experiences and existing waste management models across India. 

The first panel focused on Ground-Level Models and Experiences. Kaveri Gill from Shiv Nadar University, NCR spoke from her experience of close to 30 years of studying waste management in the lower Himalayas. She emphasized the need for an inclusive formalisation for an  ecologically sound, labour sensitive and cost friendly waste management system. Gandhar Joshi presented the SWaCH model from Pune. SWaCH is a wastepickers' cooperative that ensures door-to-door collection of waste for a fixed user fee. The model has improved livelihoods and provided efficient urban waste services. Joshi noted the policy shift post-2005, pushing towards integrated waste and energy solutions. 

Shobha Raghvan, CEO of Saahas Zero Waste, underlined the importance of infrastructure. She noted the shortcomings of micro-composting and bio centers in many cities while commending IIT Kanpur's aspirations to transition into a zero-waste campus. Tripti Singh from Tata Institute of Social Sciences presented five case studies from Lucknow, focusing on local sustainability practices and citizen-driven waste initiatives. Diya Batra of Waste Warriors shared experiences from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, highlighting challenges in managing waste in the hilly regions of Bir, Dharamshala, and Kempty.

The second panel focused on Reviewing Solid Waste Mangement Policy where Mercy Samuel from CEPT University, Ahmedabad discussed how programs like Swachh Bharat Mission have helped cities restructure waste management. Using the case study of Indore, she stressed the role of citizens and urban bodies. Tribhuvan Singh Bisht from the Centre for Science and Environment presented a cost analysis of managing plastic waste across cities. Arkaja Singh from the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water addressed the legal and regulatory hurdles in urban waste governance. She based her analysis on a study of waste management in 4 Indian cities.

The third panel discussion focused on Technology and Solid Waste Mangement and Manoj Tiwari from IIT Kanpur showcased the importance  of decision science for optimizing waste management systems. R.S. Singh of IIT BHU linked life cycle assessment with Sustainable Development Goals and using a Lucknow Cantonment as a case study, Prof. Rajeev Jindal and Ankita Bhowmik from IIT Kanpur discussed how technology  is being used to address the gaps in municipal waste management. Corey Glickman also from IIT Kanpur used his experience in working with the Infosys campus on solid waste management to emphasize the need to approach waste as a resource rather than a liability. 

The conference concluded with a dynamic round table session, encouraging multi-stakeholder collaboration to build a cleaner, more sustainable future. Participants emphasized the need for collaboration across academic institutions, local governments, industry, and citizens to build inclusive, scalable, and technology-driven solutions.