Waste and Water waste management has been identified as one of the most recession proof segments poised for growth.

At a Frost & Sullivan summit GIL 2009: India on growth, innovation and leadership, industry leaders agreed that the growing emphasis on the three Rs – reduce, recyle and reuse will boost the demand and interest in the segment,

“India creates 200,000 tonnes of waste per day in urban areas which translates into ½ kg of per head per day, there are a lot of market opportunities,” said Goutam Reddy, executive editor Ramky Enviro.

Urbanisation and industrialization, new government legislation, increased awareness and new government policies will help push this segment in the right growth path.

“There is a sustained interest in the waste management business as a core segment. Waste to energy and anaerobic digestion technology will be growth drivers in India. While government projects and subsidies sustain growth in the municipal segment, the industrial segment is maintained by a strong need for recycling and reuse ,” explains Suchitra Padmanabhan, programme manager at Frost & Sullivan.

This in turn will boost ancillary businesses such as the waste and water waste management system equipment. The market for this particular segment is $1 billion.

One of the up and coming areas which will help spur the sector is the municipal segment.

“There is a great potential in the municipal segment in the country. Creating awareness at the grassroot level and educating the technology providers is essential,” said Mukund Vasudevan, Country Head, Pentair Water India.

Currently the industrial sector is seeing the most activity in this area, but industry leaders say that the other related nascent markets will soon move on the upward trajectory.

“The market is moving in the direction, we just have to tap the latent possibilities,” added Ajay Popat, CEO Ion Exchange India Ltd.