BANGALORE: The BBMP’s
waste segregation initiatives may have floundered but one group of
citizens is actively ploughing away at the effort and showing the way
out for the city’s perennial landfill woes. Residents of a housing
enclave near Yelahanka have displayed how sheer will and concerted
efforts can make a difference to the problem of waste pile-up.

Residents of 100-odd apartments and 26 villas from Sobha Althea and Azalea not only segregate the garbage
they generate into wet and dry waste but further divide the dry waste
into 14 categories. Not a bit of the 950 kg of waste generated every
month goes to the landfill. It is all either reusable or compostable.

“We live and breathe waste management. It is not just a passion to
clean up but a deep understanding of things related to our way of
living. The landfill crisis gave us a strong reason to start waste
management in a big way. The BBMP regulation came just in time,” said
Savita Hiremath, a resident who pioneered the initiative.

Savita started by enlisting like-minded people in the gated enclave.
“Even I found it difficult to give away the black plastic bag used as
lining and take to newspapers. But once I started I only became more
confident,” said Ranjini Ravi, member of the green committee of the
gated community.

“We went hunting for best practices to evolve a
contextual segregation planning. The management committee of the
apartment owners’ association thumbed up the process and we began
interactions with all residents as a first step. The second step was to
train maids and housekeepers which we started on October 2. They were
reluctant thinking it meant more work but I asked if they knew about
Mavallipura and Mandur,” Savita explained.

The green committee that manages the waste problem has more than 10 women
play an active role in training maids, upkeep of the compound and
monitoring waste segregation daily. Among its members are Krishna
Kannan, Sindhu Gopinath, Manu, Jeslyn George and Urmi Pakalpati.

“Some residents were against segregation. We drew flak or entered into
heated arguments but made sure that enforcement is there. We waited at
the apartment gates to convince the maids who did not attend the
training,” said Manu.

Sobha Althea and Azalea’s success in solid waste management has drawn the attention of other residential enclaves in the area.

“We have been approached by residents of neighbouring apartments and
gated communities to know how we manage all this. We have plans to
further involve villagers and gated communities around in waste
segregation and take this across Yelahanka and other parts of the city
also,” Manu added.

Quote

The key to
our successful waste management are the empowered housekeepers who can
say no, if a particular household sends mixed waste Savita Hiremath, Pioneer of initiative

Breaking down further

Recyclers take away all the segregated waste and pays the residents
nearly Rs 4,000 a month. This is paid as incentives to housekeepers.
Every household has three bins-for dry waste, kitchen waste and
bio-waste. The dry waste is divided in 14 types: Bottles containing food
and drink; bottles/ containers of floor cleaners etc; metal cans and
canisters; tetrapacks; cardboards used for packing; milk packets;
newspapers; soiled newspapers; white sheets; books and note books for
writing; soft plastic used for packages; coconut shells; electronic
waste; wood and rubber

BBMP should adopt such a model

When citizens have the will, they show the way. At a time when the
waste segregation policy of the BBMP has had little desired effect, with
the public and authorities alike displaying lack of initiative, a group
of citizens has not only bucked the trend but has taken scientific
waste disposal to a new level. Their successful experiment is goading
other apartment complexes to follow suit. Here is where the BBMP can
play an effective role. It should facilitate the adoption of such a
model across housing societies in Bangalore, where the garbage
segregators are empowered and given incentives.