e-newsletter-2

Genesis of waste management in Brigade Gardenia

WHY IS WASTE MANAGEMENT IMPORTANT?

Scene 1: You cringe at the sight of garbage that has been dumped in the open, you hold your breath because the stench is unbearable, and you tread carefully around the mess to avoid being run over by passing vehicles.

Scene 2: You are in Kodaikanal and you’re transported to another world as you enjoy the scenic beauty of Coaker’s Walk. But, suddenly, you are jolted back to reality — right below the railing on which you’re leaning thinking pleasant thoughts is a heap of rotting garbage.

Scene 3: It’s the monsoon season and Bangalore is experiencing heavy rains in the evening. You are worried about your spouse and children being unable to get home. Why? As usual, the storm-water drains, choked by garbage, have overflowed and the roads and pavements have been submerged.

Haven't we all gone through this some time or the other?

THE IDEA OF SEGREGATION

Hence the idea of segregating, or separating, waste came up and started with about 20 families in Brigade Gardenia in November 2009.

Segregation of waste has to happen at “source” because once wet and dry wastes are mixed they cannot be recycled. (Only dry waste is being considered here because wet waste requires separate infrastructure for composting.) Since paper and plastic form the majority of waste we divide dry waste into three categories:  PAPER, PLASTIC, and METAL/OTHER/E-WASTE.

WHO CLEARS THE COLLECTED WASTE?

We got in touch with other apartment complexes in Bangalore that have waste management schemes in place and we then contacted an NGO, Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, which takes care of waste clearance under its Parisara (Environment) project.

Next Issue: What is Samarthanam Trust and what does it do with the waste?

• FOR MORE DETAILS, CONTACT: 1. TISHA BANERJEE (EXT- 6661, tbhaduri@hotmail.com)  2. VASANTI RAVI (EXT-6438, vasanti.ravi@gmail.com )