Waste & Effluent Management

Waste

GRI Standards

Managing waste responsibly is both an environmental obligation and a business imperative. At KNPL, we treat waste as a material that can be reduced, recovered and, wherever possible, returned to productive use. Our approach is grounded in environmental protection, regulatory compliance and efficient resource use across our manufacturing network.

We manage a range of waste streams, including hazardous waste, plastic waste, e-waste, biomedical waste and nonhazardous waste, ensuring that all materials are handled, treated and disposed of through authorised channels in compliance with applicable local and national regulations.

Thrust Areas: For Judicious Waste Management

• Segregated storage of waste in designated areas across all plants
• Methodical tracking of waste generation and disposal quantities
• Ensuring disposal of waste at authorised Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) in compliance with statutory requirements
• Implementing hazardous waste co-processing across all plants
• Embracing the 4Rs principle - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover- for effective waste management

Waste Generated

In FY 2025-26, KNPL generated a total of 9,424 MT of waste. This included 911 MT of hazardous waste, 12 MT of e-waste, 1 MT of biomedical waste, 4,035 MT of contaminated container waste (barrels, tins, and drums), 941 MT of other hazardous waste, 15 MT of battery waste, and non-hazardous waste of 2,391 MT.

The specific hazardous waste generation (SHWG) for FY 25-26 for our manufacturing facilities was 2.38 kg/KL of FG, a decrease of 12% since the baseline FY 2018-19.

Hazardous waste generated due to our operations mainly includes distillation residue, Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) sludge, paint sludge, dirty resin, contaminated barrel/tins, filter cartridge, and contaminated cotton waste.

Method of Calculation:

1. Manufacturing Facilities - Specific Hazardous Waste Generation is ratio of hazardous waste generated in Plants to Production of Finished Goods during specified period.
2. Organisation-wide -Specific Hazardous Waste Generation is ratio of hazardous waste generated in Plants and R&D centre to Production of Finished Goods during specified period.

Waste Disposal

At KNPL, waste is separated and then sent to authorized Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) for disposal, reuse, or recycling following applicable laws and regulations. By implementing the coprocessing of hazardous waste in cement kilns, our Company has successfully diverted the majority of our waste from landfills.

Additionally, we have successfully converted 23 MT of organic canteen and food waste into 13 MT of premium-grade manure through bio-composting techniques.

This internally generated manure supports our landscaping and horticultural requirements across facilities.

Waste Diverted From Disposal

Reusable cartridge in the filtration process

Cleaning solvents of all major resins are reused in the next batch of same resins

In paint section, system controls have been implemented to ensure reuse of paint filled in part filled cans in the next compatible batch of paint

In operations, cleaning solvent is reused after distillation process again for equipment cleaning

Paint Pigging wash water reuse

TiO2 recovery through de-dusting

Reusing drums and barrels

Take-back mechanism with suppliers supplying raw materials in plastic bags

Waste Directed to Disposal

Barrels/Tins are recycled through authorized vendors

Plastic waste, corrugated boxes and metal scrap generated within factory premises is recycled through authorized vendors

Raw materials procured in recyclable packaging material

E-waste sent through buy-back programme

Hazardous Waste Reduction

KNPL constantly focuses on effectively managing hazardous waste. We are committed to reducing the hazardous waste generated during our operations. We also put various measures in place to effectively manage the hazardous waste generated. During the distillation process for solvent recovery, residue is produced, which contributes to hazardous waste. KNPL has developed a process to utilise this residue for the preparation of low-grade paint. In FY 24-25, 20% of the distillation residue generated was converted into low-grade paint.

Extended Producer Responsibility

In FY 2023-24, KNPL collected, recycled, co-processed and safely disposed of 12,068 MT of post-consumer plastic waste, including rigid and flexible plastic. This was in accordance with the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules of 2016 and the National Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) released in 2022

Keeping Our Waters Clean

Discharge At KNPL, we are committed to protecting the environment and people from possible harm caused by water discharge from our industrial sites. We strictly comply with Zero Liquid Discharge regulations at our major facilities, making sure that all wastewater is efficiently cleaned and recycled without being released into the environment. This ensures that runoff from our processes does not contaminate surrounding water sources.

After undergoing primary and secondary treatment, wastewater is further processed in advanced water recovery systems, including Agitated Thin Film Dryers (ATFD), Multiple Effluent Treatment Plant, Bawal UF-RO Plant, Sayakha Effect Evaporators (MEE), and Reverse Osmosis (RO) units. These technologies enable us to recover water efficiently and support our goal of responsible water stewardship.

We have dedicated treatment facilities for both domestic and industrial effluents, supported by an in-house laboratory to monitor effluent quality across all major manufacturing facilities. Moreover, KNPL’s ETP treated water is further treated in ZLD and recycled for utility makeup, while the STP-treated water is reused for gardening and toilet flushing