Locals adopt ‘zero waste policy’, pilot project to begin in Mehrauli

United RWAs Joint Action group has proposed to develop a model for segregating and recycling waste into manure

Aiming to tackle waste management more effectively, a group of RWAs in Mehrauli assembly constituency have decided to develop a ‘zero waste policy’. The group — URJA (United RWAs Joint Action) — has tied up with the government to bring the policy into effect in the area. During a recent meeting with MLA Naresh Yadav, the group proposed to develop a model for segregating and recycling waste into manure.

Residents are taking advice from NGOs and other experts to make a project report.

This will be a pilot project for thousand households in the constituency. The initiative has been taken under the group’s ‘Clean Delhi Air’ campaign. A number of waste management and environment experts participated in the meeting convened by the RWAs to bring together the zero-waste model.

“The MLA has committed to the residents that he will take the project forward for the government’s sanction. We also discussed the possibility of implementing the model in other areas,” said Amit Aggarwal, project in charge, URJA.

The group has roped in a number of NGOs working in this field along with experts from IIT and Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) to make a project report.

Aggarwal said that the municipal corporation introduced a model a few years ago to get waste segregated into different dustbins, however, it wasn’t effective.

“We are developing a revenue model where RWAs can earn while generating zero waste. There will be several pits for each house and a recycling unit in the area. We are discussing the financial modalities to have a self-sustaining model to cut down pollution,” he said.

Yadav said, “The RWAs will prepare a project report with help from experts. It is important that residents are involved in designing solutions for the community. I will take the report forward for government sanction. I will ensure it gets approved and the plan is implemented. If it works well, then we will push it for even larger implementation across the city.”

According to experts, non-segregated waste is a major contributing factor to air pollution, even more than vehicular pollution. The process of collecting waste and then taking it to landfill sites produces particulate matter which is suspended in the air, leading to pollution.

Mehrauli coordinator for URJA, Sandeep Bali, said, that the project is going to help clean up the city as well. “A number of presentations have been made on the proposal. The report will take some time to be ready,” he said.