APD Foundation joins hand with MCC to segragate waste

APD Foundation joins hand with MCC to segragate waste

Mangalore Today News Network

Aug 26, 2016: APD, Anti Pollution Drive Foundation has been entrusted with the task of starting a mass awareness campaign on waste segregation as part of MCC, Mangaluru City Corporation’s newly launched Swachh Mangaluru initiative in association with AWHCPL, Antony Waste Handling Cell Pvt Ltd.

Media note said the city generates around 300 tonnes of waste per day of waste --- equivalent to 30 truckloads of waste per day that adds to 10,950 truck loads to landfill every year. Out of 300 tonnes of waste daily, almost 90% is dumped in the landfill. However, if waste is not mixed at source, almost 80% of this waste can be converted into valuable materials.  The campaign aims to adapt a generator-wise strategy that would help reduce the city’s waste to landfill by 30% in a year.

By educating the public, the campaign aims promote the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle through waste minimisation and in-situ wet waste management. As much as 60% of waste in the average garbage bin could be composted.

"We feel honoured that we have been given this important responsibility by AWHCPL and the MCC. We are creating a special a task force and bringing in partners to gain maximum reach and effectiveness," APD Founder Abdullah A Rehman said.

Digital, a Pune-based firm, is engaged as the digital partner to design publicity tools. SensingLocal, a Bengaluru-based startup, would create communication tool kits and evolve strategies to reach out to larger populations.

Explaining the need for public participation, Rehman said, "Mangaluru was known for its lush green surroundings. But uncontrolled urbanisation has led to undesirable environmental damage. Our goal is to reverse this negative trend and reestablish Mangaluru as one of the cleanest cities in the country. Already, Mysore has been recognised as the cleanest city in India. This was possible due to effective solid waste management. We too can achieve this status as a lot of core issues have been identified by MCC and AWHCPL and an improvised system is in place."

"Within a year, we aim to educate people about the benefits of segregation within the entire MCC limits, find our waste champions/warriors - the fastest achievers of zero waste targets and become a model city. The entire process will be documented so that it can be replicated in others cities of India. The programme will be a combination of two approaches, one of ’public education’ and anoother is ’community participation.’"