Workshop on Zero Waste Management

In an effort to show how more than 90% of the household wastes could be recycled, Mumbai-based groups RUR (‘Are you recycling’) and Urban Leaves (group which supports organic food) recently conducted a workshop on zero waste management. The highlights of the workshop were on understanding the meaning of ‘Green’, practicing zero waste management at home, making compost out of wet/bio-degradable waste and building green network. Clean India Journal participated in the workshop.

“The purpose of the workshop is to bring together like-minded people who care for the environment,” said Monisha Narke, founder member of RUR. The forum’s vision is to make the waste worthwhile for the planet by adopting green practices.

RUR has been organising awareness programme in offices, colleges and even in schools. It also works closely with civic authorities, sets up collection and compost centers in schools to recycle waste, and conducts research on natural alternatives. RUR has created ‘mind maps’ (a flow chart) that explains how to embark on green programmes like bringing about small changes in urban lifestyles, leading a greener life with segregation of waste. The group forms human chains outside malls and near markets to spread awareness about environmental issues.

The members of the group not only preach but also practice zero waste management in their homes by using CFL and LED lights, cleaning glasses with lemon peels and reusing kitchen water for composting. Monisha added, “With the government banning plastic bags, this is the time is to make economical and eco-friendly alternatives available. Through workshops, practical demonstrations, campaigns, we spread the green message of shifting the focus from disposable to reusable.”

RUR has moved on from green efforts in homes like conserving light & water and recycling garbage to convincing the supermarket chain Sahkari Bhandar to promote cloth bags and reduce plastic usage by 70%. They have also tied up with another NGO called Force that collects reusable dry articles and recycles them. “We are planning kiosks at prominent places to collect tetrapacks. These will be given to a company in Ahmedabad, Daman Ganga to be recycled to produce consumer products,” Monisha added.

SWM plant for Faridabad

Faridabad will soon have Solid Waste Treatment plant at Bandhwari with a hope to tackle the waste management problems of the city. The plant has been built under JNNURM scheme with a cost of `76 crore. It will be functional in November 2010 and the residual waste of the city will be treated in this plant. The garbage will be collected from NIT zone and treated at this plant. On the successful treatment of waste, the garbage from old Faridabad and Ballabhgarh will also be collected and treated at the Bandhwari plant.

New PPP model for Aizawl

Mizoram launched the public-private partnership mode to deal with the solid waste disposal problems, on the occasion of the World Habitat Day (October 4). Under the new project, waste disposal in 60 localities (about 80% of the entire city) will be carried out under the PPP mode. The total expenditure to be borne by the government will be `5,08,500 every week. Not less than 10% of the total cost on waste management will be met by the community, while the rest by the department as grants in aid. The village councils (local bodies) will take charge of the waste management with the department giving necessary supervision. It will collect the community’s share of expenditure from the residents