Mumbai residents all set to take up ‘mission zero-garbage’
The campaign called Forward 69 aims to ensure that waste from Nehrunagar, Juhu Tara Road and JVPD does not leave the ward
After the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sent notices and issued deadlines for societies in Mumbai to segregate and compost their waste, Juhu is all set to become the first zero-garbage area in ward number 69.
Under the leadership of corporator Renu Hansraj, Juhu residents and activists have teamed up to install organic waste converter that will process the waste produced in the ward number 69. Assistant municipal commissioner Prashant Gaikwad said two plots have been chosen for installation of the converter and a tree shredder. The shredder is for processing waste after trees will be trimmed or pruned.
The civic officials said the processing unit will be put up at a 4,000 sq m JVPD plot on 5th road by September. MLA Amit Satam, a supporter of the zero-garbage campaign, said waste will be segregated and all green waste will be processed on the plot.
The campaign called Forward 69 aims to ensure that waste from Nehrunagar, Juhu Tara Road and JVPD does not leave the ward and reduce the amount of waste going to dumping grounds. Mehjabeen Barwani, a resident and member of the campaign, said, “We have got two machines at Nehrunagar to collect and compress the waste. This has resulted in less garbage dumped on roads. ”
The campaign has about 75 members, in a group called Team 69, who are currently working on educating residents and creating awareness about waste management. The initiative was launched on July 9 by the corporator and a workshop-cum-exhibition was held to teach residents about composting, segregating, recycling waste and kitchen gardening.
“As an incentive, I will be gifting solar panels to societies that have been segregating and composting waste on their own. Each society shall get two tumblers for composting,” said Satam. Nearly 80% of societies in Andheri (West) have already started segregating waste at the source.
Gaikwad added, “An event will soon be organised for Andheri (West) where different waste management agencies will showcase their tools and methods of processing waste.”