Chennai: As the step one of solid waste management – segregation of waste – is a cent per cent success, residents of Sathankadu from the Tiruvottiyur zone now head towards waste harvesting.
The zero waste ward had embraced eco-friendly ways of waste management since February this year, after the combined efforts of Exnora Green Pammal, an environmental organisation, ITC Limited and Greater Chennai corporation. Sathankadu, which is among the few wards to implement hundred per cent segregation of waste into biodegradable, non-bio degradable and recyclable, would now compost the waste, an initiative that slightly reduces the load at the already overloading Kodungaiyur dump yard.
“A year ago, garbage from our ward was taken to Kodungaiyur dump yard. Now, we have our own methods of waste management,” said C. Tamil Selvi, a resident, who is into segregation. Thirty per cent of the households’ compost waste at their own home, while the waste from the 70 per cent of them is taken to the newly erected compost shed at the ward. Chennai Corporation provided land for the compost shed that was set up in five grounds. Mangalam Balasubramanian of Exnora Green Pammal said, “The manure formed in the compost shed was distributed to residents, to utilize it for their home gardens. We also held an exhibition to teach on the composting ways.” Dr Suboth Kumar, regional deputy commissioner, North, Chennai Corporation, said: “It is an inspiring model, that needs to be implemented in all the zones of the corporation. It is the duty of the Sathankadu residents to sensitise others on waste management.”
