A Volunteer group led by Vijay Bhalla (14GF2) is spearheading the segregation effort. A few common questions for a better understanding –
Q. Should wet waste be given in a plastic bag or in the bin?
A. Ideally, give your wet waste in a close bottom reusable bin. The waste collector can just tip it in his green wet waste trolley. Not using a plastic lining means you must rinse your bin daily but ensures one less thing heads to the landfill.
But, if you find a lining convenient, please go ahead and use it, but please do segregate.
Q. Facility team will start dry waste collection twice a week instead of daily. How will we keep dry waste like dahi & milk packets, order-in food containers etc. at home for several days? They will stink!
A. To ensure your dry waste is recycled/ reused/ repurposed, and not dumped in a landfill to pollute our soil, air and water, you will have to institute steps to give it out ‘clean’ in a recycle ready state.
Dahi, milk, lassi etc. packets should be given a quick rinse with water. Oily order-in containers must be washed with soap and then put in dry waste. Only your efforts can change stinking garbage to resources that can be reused.
Q. I have many family members and changing house helps. How can I educate them about segregation?
A. Setting up a system is key, two separate bins for wet and dry, also frequent checks. Discussions with the family and house help about the ‘new system’ will aid the effort. The change will not happen in a day or even a week.
But with consistency, effort and daily reminders to concerned stakeholders, it will happen. Please pursue this worthwhile goal.
Q. Waste segregation is too much effort. Why should I do it?
A. Segregated waste can be utilized to produce something useful. Wet waste can be composted to make manure or utilized in a waste-to-energy plant. Dry waste, properly segregated and given out ‘clean’, can be reused/ repurposed/ recycled, saving precious resources for our future generations.
One day, soon, not segregating and not composting will be frowned upon, just as modern society looks down upon early man’s not bathing. Afterall, not segregating and irresponsibly handling your waste is dirty, unhygienic and harmful.
Q. Where does our waste go after being segregated?
A. Our waste aggregator WMC can utilize wet waste at the waste-to-energy plant set up near Pathways School. WMC also has a material recovery facility where they can take our dry waste for its ‘new life’. However, unsegregated waste is dumped in a landfill.
by Roli Thapar (11142)
