Solid Waste Management Roundtable ( SWMRT)

On 24th February, the Bengaluru team of NTT DATA visited SwachaGraha Kalika Kendra to learn about sustainable waste management practices. The SWMRT team led by Anuradha Govind and Bidyut Nath conducted a learning tour for the participants, along with a composting and bio-enzyme-making session. The team also visited the Dry Waste Collection Centre (DWCC) to learn how dry waste is sorted into various categories before being given to the facilities for recycling or disposal. Thank you to the amazing NTT Group team for visiting the centre and making the effort to learn more about sustainable practices! Anuradha Govind Bidyut Nath SIDDU H CHALAWADI Aishwarya Nair Aarthi Thoppae Variyata Vyas #sustainablechoices #sustainability #bioenzyme #swachagraha #composting #wastesegregation

This week, #whyburnwaste brings you a fine example of collective citizen power. The World Bank recently retracted its $40M funding for four waste-to-energy plants in Gujarat after fierce resistance from locals and activists.? If commissioned, these incinerators would’ve burned 3,750 tonnes of mixed waste daily!? This is a win for environmental justice and a reminder that citizen voices matter! The citizens do not deserve polluting technologies to tackle the problems of mismanagement of waste. Kudos to the #PowerOfPeople ! Head to the link to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dRYmTYtm #whyburnwaste team this week: Monika Khanna Gulati Sowmya Raghavan Divya Tiwari GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) vani murthy Shanthi Tummala Saahas Zero Waste Aarthi Thoppae Aishwarya Nair Pinky Chandran Savita Hiremath Malini Parmar SIDDU H CHALAWADI Variyata Vyas #whyburnwastewednesday #swmrt #saahas #ncrwastematters #wastetoenergy #Gujarat #worldbank #zerowaste #sustainablesolutions #communityresistance #noburn #saynotoincineration #internationalfinancecorporation #enviornmentaljustice

On 18th February, Sampark NGO brought 40 educators from labour colonies to SwachaGraha Kalika Kendra. These individuals work at childcare centres, supporting early education and care. SWMRT team members SIDDU H CHALAWADI and Aarthi Thoppae conducted a session on sustainable waste management. Later, HSR Citizen Forum led a session on sustainable menstruation and distributed menstrual cups to 15 interested women. The session wrapped up with a home composting demonstration and an introduction to dry waste management, followed by a visit to the Dry Waste Collection Centre (DWCC) in HSR Layout. It was a meaningful day of learning and sharing! #wastemanagement #sustainablemenstruation #composting #sustainability #sustainablechoices #menstrualcups

On 7th February, 12 students from Srishti School of Design visited our learning centre for a session on sustainable waste management, as part of “Ecological Consciousness”—a segment of their curriculum focused on environmental awareness. SWMRT team member Aishwarya Nair led an insightful discussion on the mixed waste problem, the importance of 3-way segregation, the impact of single-use disposables, and sustainable menstruation, followed by a hands-on composting demonstration. The highlight? Exploring practical ways to make their college more sustainable—waste segregation, ditching 250 ml plastic bottles at events, choosing eco-friendly decorations, and opting for thoughtful, sustainable gifting! Aarthi Thoppae Aishwarya Nair Variyata Vyas SIDDU H CHALAWADI

Participants from Sampark NGO visited SwachaGraha Kalika Kendra for a session on waste management on 6th February. Led by SWMRT team members, the session covered the issue of mixed waste, the impact of switching from single-use disposables to sustainable alternatives such as carrying one’s own cutlery, and the importance of three-way waste segregation. A hands-on demonstration on home composting was also conducted for the participants by the SWMRT team. They were then taken to the Dry Waste Collection Centre (DWCC) to gain insight into how dry waste is managed at such facilities. Aarthi Thoppae Aishwarya Nair SIDDU H CHALAWADI Variyata Vyas

#whyburnwaste brings to you an article by The Wire on the ongoing protests in Sannoth against the Bawana WtE plant. Since December 19th, residents have opposed the incinerator, fearing severe health risks. If built, Bawana would become India's largest incineration hub, burning 6,000 tonnes of waste daily despite existing pollution concerns.? Head to the link to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dqwt6dti #whyburnwaste team this week Monika Khanna Gulati Sowmya Raghavan Divya Tiwari #whyburnwastewednesday #swmrt #saahas #ncrwastematters #WasteToEnergy #Bawana #DelhiPollution #ZeroWaste #AirQualityCrisis #SustainableSolutions #CommunityResistance #SayNoToIncineration #noburn

#NewArticle The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, recently released the draft?Environment Protection (#ExtendedProducerResponsibility for Packaging made from paper, glass and metal as well as sanitary products) Rules, 2024 for comments. The regulation uses a similar framework as the Plastic Waste Management Rules on EPR (5th amendment) 2022. These rules mandate that producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs), including online platforms/marketplaces and supermarkets/retail chain register on the centralised online portal, and fulfil their extended producer responsibility (EPR) towards recycling, recycled content and end of life disposal, meeting the targets set for each. While the draft rules are a welcome measure, they must address these key issues if they are to actualise the vision of a #circulareconomy. 1. Need to prioritise action over aspiration : Formally set targets for reuse in glass and reduction of waste in sanitary waste 2. Need for alignment with other rules, policies and standards - Example SWM Rules 2016 and the draft SWM Rules 2024, Draft Menstrual Hygiene Policy and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines on packaging for glass, metal, paper and sanitary products 3. Need to recognise, acknowledge and integrate informal waste workers in the recycling value chain without creating parallel systems for collection. There is also a need to map existing recycling infrastructure in both formal and informal settings 4. Need to account for multi material packaging, and all such mixed materials will need to be factored in within the existing EPR 5. Need to account for inefficacy of EPR credits in the PWM Rules, as it has led to various malpractices, including fraud through the generation of fake EPR trading credits and sham recycling operations as this only allows temporary solutions to the problem and undermines the preamble of the rules, which is waste reduction, redesigning packaging, channelising investments in recycling infrastructure and actually fixing producer responsibility. Vignesh Hasirudala Arpita B. Madhuvanthi Rajkumar Ambily Adithyan Dr Lata Ghanshamnani Solid Waste Management Roundtable ( SWMRT) Hasiru Dala Read my latest article in Citizen Matters

On 30th January,?44 students from Ekya School visited SwachaGraha Kalika Kendra for an insightful session on sustainable waste management and an engaging learning tour. During the visit, they explored the problem of mixed waste and the burden on landfills, delved into 3-way waste segregation, and discovered practical solutions to minimise waste and embrace a sustainable lifestyle. A hands-on home composting demonstration showed them how to turn organic waste into valuable compost. They also learned about the harmful impact of single-use disposables and were encouraged to carry their own cutlery to reduce dependence on single-use plastics in daily life. Session led by SWMRT team member?Aishwarya Nair

Banashankari Temple in Bengaluru sets a shining example for sustainable worship with the installation of signage to guide devotees towards eco-friendly alternatives and reusable. Temples, often visited by large numbers of devotees, face the ongoing challenge of managing the significant amount of plastic waste generated from offerings, plastic bottles, and disposable items used by devotees. This plastic waste poses a serious threat to the environment. As part of the ongoing Green Temple Initiative, the temple has installed signage encouraging the use of reusable water bottles, cloth bags, and eco-friendly offerings. Thus, reducing the use of single-use disposables and fostering a more sustainable way to worship. The Green Temple movement is spreading across various temples, including Banashankari Temple, Ragigudda Temple, Begur Nageshwara Temple, and Kadu Malleshwara Temple. Should this be implemented across all places of worship? Tell us in the comments below! Credits : Solid Waste Management Roundtable ( SWMRT) #GoGreen #Bengaluru #GreenInitiatives #SaveOurPlanet #WasteManagement

Had the greatest opportunity to meet Vani Murthy Ma'am from Solid Waste Management Roundtable ( SWMRT) ,as she has come to our college for a pre-conference workshop on waste management!????? The workshop was really insightful and inspiring and it also reminded me of the time I had tried to do composting and failed miserably?? This picture will be really an inspiration to keep working more and more towards our ambition and dreams! #waste #wastemanagement #circulareconomy #environment