Turning point

The year 2006-2017

I've lived in the bustling city of #ghaziabad , Uttar Pradesh, for over 25 years. As I travelled from Ghaziabad to Delhi, I encountered a sight that has forever changed my perspective on the world: a massive #legacy #waste #dumpsite in the #Ghazipur region of #eastdelhi . Every time I peered out of the car window, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of dismay. The dumpsite sprawled across the landscape, releasing an overpowering stench that invaded the air, suffocating the breath of life. Seeing mounds of garbage stretching as far as the eye could see filled me with a mixture of sadness and frustration.

I often found my gaze fixated on the Ghazipur legacy waste dumpsite, unable to escape the reality of the waste crisis plaguing my surroundings. I have witnessed negligence's harmful consequences, as waste from the dumpsite spilt onto nearby water bodies and emitted toxic fumes suspended heavily in the atmosphere. This sight became a constant reminder of the urgent need for change.

After that, I felt inclined to get a higher education in the field of environment, to understand the cause and do my part in addressing the environmental deterioration I watched every day on my commute. Then I worked at IL&FS's Waste to Energy (#WtE) #facility, where I worked in and around Ghazipur's legacy waste dumpsites to understand their ground reality and issues. I have also been organizing #IEC (Information, Education & Communication), #BCC (Behaviour Change Communication), and Capacity Building programmes about waste management, trying my bit to make folks aware of their actions.

The year 2021-present

Cut to 2023, when I continued my daily commute to Delhi and glanced out of my car window again; I witnessed a scene of progress this time. Once an insurmountable disaster, the legacy waste dumpsite is transforming into a symbol of environmental stewardship. A journey involving the meticulous #remediation process has begun, bringing new hope to a land burdened with waste.

Various stakeholders have united under #swachhbharatmission (Urban) 2.0, putting their efforts and resources into remediating the legacy waste dumpsite. Teams of environmental experts have been working hand in hand, their knowledge and expertise serving as the guiding light in this transformative endeavour. An array of innovative technologies, like bioremediation and #biomining, is being utilized. Skilled operators carefully excavate a combustible material called #RDF (Refused Derived Fuel) as an end-product of the remediation process. RDF is typically contaminated with inert material and high moisture content, making its utilization difficult. Co-processing in the cement industry is the only option, but it comes with a certain set of challenges.

The legacy waste dumpsite is gradually undergoing a remarkable transformation. Since last year, the dumpsite's height has reduced significantly, giving way to open spaces that had long been buried beneath the legacy waste dumpsite. The remediation of the legacy waste dumpsite is not the end of the #story; it is merely the #beginning . It reminds us of our responsibility to #minimizewaste, #practicesourcesegregation, #adoptsustainablepractices , and hold ourselves #accountable for preserving our environment and resources.

?

?