📅 Date: Thursday, 10 September 2026
📍 Location: IFAT India 2026, Orange Stage, Mumbai, India
Organic waste management, resource recovery, recycling, and alternative fuel solutions will take center stage at the IFAT India 2026 Orange Stage, where German RETech Partnership e.V. will bring together experts from Germany and India to discuss practical approaches for advancing the circular economy and strengthening sustainable waste management systems.
As India’s cities continue to face growing waste management challenges, efficient resource recovery and the utilization of valuable secondary raw materials are becoming increasingly important. Through two expert panel discussions, German RETech Partnership will explore how innovative technologies, supportive policy frameworks, and international cooperation can help transform waste into valuable resources while reducing environmental impacts and supporting climate objectives.
RETech Panel Highlights
Integrated OFMSW Management in India: From Biogas to Carbon-Rich Soil Amendments
Thursday, 10 September 2026 | 11:30 – 12:15 IST
Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) remains a significant but underutilized resource in many Indian cities. This session will explore how food waste, market waste, industrial residues, and other biodegradable materials can be transformed into renewable energy through biogas production and into valuable carbon-rich soil amendments. Experts from Germany and India will discuss the conditions required for successful OFMSW management, including feedstock quality, collection systems, treatment technologies, policy frameworks, and business models. The discussion will highlight how organic waste can become a valuable resource for renewable energy generation, soil carbon enhancement, and climate protection.
Moderator
- Brijesh Patel, Head of Working Group India, German RETech Partnership; Director, Indus Eco Partners
Panelists
- Dr. T. K. Sreedevi, Secretary, Municipal Administration Department, Government of Telangana
- Aditi Ramola, Technical Director, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)
- Aurel Lübke, CEO, Compost Systems
- Tobias Weber, International Business Development Manager, Komptech Vertriebsgesellschaft Deutschland GmbH
About the Speakers
Brijesh Patel has more than 15 years of experience in waste management, biogas, recycling, and circular economy sectors, supporting cooperation between German and Indian organizations and leading RETech’s India Working Group.
Dr. T. K. Sreedevi is a senior civil servant with more than three decades of experience in urban governance, municipal administration, development management, and digital transformation in the public sector.
Aditi Ramola serves as Technical Director at ISWA and specializes in sustainable finance, circular economy, resource management, methane mitigation, and international cooperation.
Aurel Lübke has spent more than 35 years in the composting and biological treatment sector and has overseen the development of more than 250 treatment facilities worldwide through Compost Systems.
Tobias Weber brings over 30 years of international business development experience and has led market expansion activities for Komptech across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Maximizing Resource Recovery from Mixed Waste in India: A Circular Economy Approach through Recycling and RDF-Based Energy Recovery
Thursday, 10 September 2026 | 14:00 – 15:15 IST
India’s waste management sector faces the challenge of maximizing resource recovery while reducing dependence on landfill disposal. This session will examine how improved collection, sorting, recycling, and material recovery systems can increase recycling rates and recover greater value from mixed municipal waste streams. The discussion will also explore the role of Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) as an alternative to fossil fuels for residual waste fractions that cannot be economically recycled. Experts from Germany and India will share practical experiences on sorting technologies, preprocessing solutions, quality standards, market development, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and industrial RDF utilization.
Moderator
- Sebastian Frisch, Managing Director, BlackForest Solutions GmbH
Panelists
- Saurabh Shah, Managing Director, Landbell GreenForest Solutions India
- Vimal Kumar Jain, Technical Director, HeidelbergCement India Limited
- Tim Hamer, Director Sales Recycling, Vecoplan AG
- Bhalchandra G. Kulkarni, Managing Director, JFE Engineering India
About the Speakers
Sebastian Frisch is Managing Director of BlackForest Solutions and brings 25 years of international waste management experience, including extensive expertise in EPR systems and circular economy strategies.
Saurabh Shah is Managing Director of Landbell GreenForest Solutions India and a recognized expert on EPR, plastic waste management, and circular economy implementation.
Vimal Kumar Jain, Whole-time Director and Technical Director of Heidelberg Cement India Limited, has more than three decades of experience in the cement industry, including sustainability, operational transformation, and industrial optimization.
Tim Hamer leads global recycling sales activities at Vecoplan AG and has extensive experience in recycling technologies, international business development, and resource recovery solutions.
Bhalchandra G. Kulkarni is Managing Director of JFE Engineering India and has over 30 years of experience in waste-to-energy, biomass power, environmental solutions, and EPC projects.
Join us at the Orange Stage and be part of the discussion shaping the future of resource recovery, recycling, alternative fuels, and sustainable waste management in India.
We look forward to welcoming you at IFAT India 2026.