Page 26 - Clean India Journal Magazine June 2019 Issue

COVER STORY

RGIA was the first airport
in the country to install waste
recycling machines as a pilot
project. These machines could
crush plastic PET bottles, steel/
aluminium cans and plastic
bags in an eco-friendly manner.
Passengers who deposited this
waste in the machine either
got an option to simply make
a donation (of waste), or claim
a discount coupon in return for
submitting their empty plastic
water bottles/bags/metal cans.
Most airport retailers have
phased out plastics thinner than
50 microns, and are using jute GMR has also mapped out the machinery is in place.
and paper substitutes. neighbouring areas so that when Under the aegis of its
a problem area is identified, Varalakshmi Foundation, GMR
Outreach it knows which village/local/ also provides free training and
government body should be
According to government hostel stay to youths from the
regulations, the airport area contacted for conflict resolution. surrounding vicinity, and teaches
extends up to a 10km radius Particular vigilance is them skills like housekeeping.
from the Airport Reference maintained on poultry farms in Successful candidates are often
Point, most of which falls the area, and how they dispose hired from the campus itself.
outside the boundary of the waste. They are constantly
airport. Within this area, there engaged with in dialogue, to In a recent survey, RGIA
should not be disposal of any ensure their business isn’t was rated the world’s 8th best
kind of waste which can attract affected either. At times, GMR airport by passengers; one of the
rodents and pests, which in turn intercedes on their behalf with parameters was service quality.
attract birds. Birds are known to the government to ensure The accolade surely comes as no
come into contact with aircraft appropriate waste disposal surprise, and is well deserved.
during take-off and landing,
impacting aircraft safety.

“We’ve gone to villages
and schools in the adjoining
areas, to teach them how to
segregate and process garbage.
Pamphlets don’t work; children
are the best coaches for their
parents. We’ve gone beyond
having meetings, and just being
reactive to a problem. Our team
is continuously roaming the
area not to get content for our
management meetings, but to
actually resolve problems.”

26 Clean India Journal www.cleanindiajournal.com
June 2019