Youngsters inspire 3 schools, 2 housing societies to take ‘zero waste’ challenge

MUMBAI: At a time when only a handful of educational institutions and housing societies are segregating waste, a group of 15 college students convinced three schools

MUMBAI: At a time when only a handful of educational institutions and housing societies are segregating waste, a group of 15 college students convinced three schools and two residential complexes to carry out 100% waste segregation so that mixed waste does not end up at city dumping grounds.

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Recurring fires at dumping grounds earlier this year were caused by unsegregated toxic garbage with high methane content. Thanks to the efforts of college students, three schools — The South Indian Education Society (SIES) School in Matunga, Auxilium Convent High School, Wadala and Don Bosco High School, Matunga — are moving towards becoming ‘zero waste’ institutes. While every school is segregating waste at source, these schools’ dry waste is recycled by private NGOs and some are even composting wet waste.

Aged between 16 and 20 years, the volunteers call themselves Team EduGet and work under NGO Karmayogi Pratisthan. “The group managed to connect civic officials, schools and NGOs so that treating waste at source becomes easier. Also, reaching out to children helps future generations resolve the garbage crisis the city is reeling under,” said Gaurang Damnia, founder of Karmayogi Pratisthan.

“We began this project after the ‘Green Heroes’ column in HT on various places handling their waste inspired us,” said Vidit Shah, 20, project leader. “Rotaract Club of Bombay Uptown helped us plan the execution.”

The students also conducted a survey in November 2015 to find out if housing societies were interested in waste segregation. They then reached out to two housing societies at King’s Circle, Matunga - Chanchal Smruti and Palai Lalit Kunj CHS, that began treating the waste. “We were initially apprehensive but after we saw positive results, we felt motivated and made it our daily habit,” said Chandrani Khair, resident of Palai Lalit Kunj.

In February 2016, the group began educating school students about the importance of waste segregation through workshops, videos and one-on-one interactions. “Owing to their efforts, the project is not only in schools but students take the message back home and ask parents and friends to carry out waste management,” said Kalyani Arumugam, SIES School, Matunga.

“Due to the students’ efforts, there has been substantial reduction in waste from F-north ward especially from educational institutes. Waste treated at source reduces burden of dumping grounds and decreases transportation cost, which is the tax payers’ money,” said a senior BMC official from solid waste management department.