Bhubaneswar: Decentralised waste management units should be established across cities to address the growing waste problem and promote a greener economy, said Dinni Lingaraj, Head of Partnership & Habitat Groups at LVBL Accelerator, at the third edition of the Earth Again Conference 2026 on Saturday.

Speaking at a special session on ‘The Green Shift’ under the Green Economy/Jobs segment, moderated by Deepsha Dhal, founder of The Climate Network, Lingaraj said cities should move away from dependence on large landfills and adopt decentralised systems for processing waste.

The session was held at the MKCG Auditorium of Utkal University and was organised by Sambad and Ama Odisha.

Lingaraj said decentralised waste management units could use technologies such as biogas plants and composting, but developing a viable market for the products generated through these processes would also be essential.

He also described equitable access to water as a fundamental design challenge, stressing the need to develop systems that ensure water reaches all sections of society rather than benefiting only a section of the population.

Lingaraj emphasised the importance of building new skills around water conservation. He said plumbers should be trained in rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, describing these as essential skills in the context of growing water challenges.

On the transition towards a green economy, Lingaraj said the use of non-renewable resources such as coal and steel could not be stopped abruptly, given the continuing demand for fossil fuels over the next few decades.

However, he stressed that industries need to progressively adopt greener practices and transition towards more sustainable models.

He said the green transition should therefore focus not only on environmental protection but also on creating new skills, livelihoods and economic opportunities linked to sustainable infrastructure, waste management and resource conservation.