India, Oct. 9 -- India's waste challenge is a year-round one, but the festive season brings it into sharper focus. Large gatherings and higher consumption mean more waste, putting greater pressure on collection and recycling systems. As India observed Swachh Bharat Diwas on October 2, this is a timely moment to look beyond keeping public spaces clean and ask a larger question: what happens to the waste once it is collected?

The answer will determine whether India's next phase of Swachh Bharat is about managing waste better or using resources better.

The distinction matters. Collection and disposal remain essential, but they address waste after it has already been created. A circular economy takes a different approach. It seeks to reduce...