Zero garbage programme
It is well said that “the cleaner our city is, the healthier we live”. Following this note, many state governments, local municipalities and organizations are taking steps to make their city a garbage free city.
The Zero Garbage Programme is just an alternative name for solid waste management which is carried out at a big level. It involves separation of organic and inorganic waste. The organic waste is processed within ward’s limits which eliminates its transportation cost to the landfill. The power generated is used for common purpose.
The dry waste such as plastics and glass gets maximized which is further recycled at respective Dry Waste Collection Centre (DWCC) to minimize the need for landfill sites.
The Pune Municipal Corporation has successfully implemented “Zero Garbage Programme”. Ward no 141 in Katraj is the first garbage-free ward in Pune. It was a joint effort by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Cummins India, Janwani, SWaCH, Lions Club and Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturers Association. The waster pickers also played a big role in the project.
The project was initiated in February 2011 when the villagers at Urali Devachi, Pune’s landfill site did not allow to dump garbage there. The garbage was creating many health hazards for the villagers. The programme has also been implemented by Madurai Corporation, Namakkal and Udumalpet municipalities.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is also set to launch the programme from July 1, 2013 in the Bangalore city. For the first phase, the civic body has selected 30 wards out of 198 to make them garbage free wards. These include seven wards each in the east, west and south zones and two each in Bommanahalli, R.R. Nagar, Mahadevapura, Dasarahalli and Yelahanka zones.
The civic body has been creating awareness programme to educate people about segregation of waste at source. Despite many efforts, the garbage problem has been gradually increasing in the city.
The expertise of the local associations, including non-governmental organizations, self-help groups, residents’ welfare associations and rag pickers’ associations would be working hard. To identify such associations, the zonal commissioners have been entrusted with the responsibility.
Such a project can be carried out successfully only with the help and co-operation of public. We can help by reducing the waste stream from our end, reuse and recycle anything which is possible.
Steps involved in Zero Garbage Programme
