Former IIT Goa Director BK Mishra urges recycling, valorization of industrial waste

Bhubaneswar, Sep 18 (UNI) Former IIT Goa Director Prof. B.K. Mishra has stressed the need to shift from a linear to a circular resource model by recycling and valorizing industrial by-products such as anode slime, phosphogypsum, fly ash, and mine tailings.
“India stands at a critical juncture in mineral resource utilization. While the demand for metals will continue to rise, it is equally important to reconsider the environmental implications of extraction,” Prof. Mishra said while delivering a lecture organized by the IIT,Bhubaneswar on National Engineers’ Day.
His talk, titled “Toward Green and Sustainable Pathways for Resource Utilization”, raised key questions on India’s future resource strategy Can steel be produced without coal? How can the growing demand for non-ferrous metals and rare earths be met? and what steps are needed to build a resilient base of critical minerals?
Prof. Mishra underlined the urgency of green innovations, tapping secondary sources, and adopting practices that minimize ecological debt.
“The answers may not come immediately, but asking the right questions and pursuing sustainable solutions will help balance industrial growth with environmental responsibility,” he noted.
On the occasion, Institute Director Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar urged students to embrace a multidisciplinary outlook. “World problems are multidisciplinary in nature. Students must think beyond silos and cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit to contribute to society’s progress,” he said.