The government today launched the nationwide Waste Segregation at Source campaign on the occasion of World Environment Day. The 4-month long campaign covering about 4000 cities and towns, was launched in New Delhi, by Minister for Urban Development, M Venkaiah Naidu and will continue till October 2. All the local civic bodies of Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) came together for the first time to take the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan pledge. When it comes to Waste Management India is struggling, it produces close to 1,00,000 metric tonnes of solid waste every day, which is higher than many countries’ total daily waste generation taken together and a whopping 75% of the waste makes its way to our overflowing landfills, untreated. In the National Capital Region alone, about 15,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste is being generated every day. With the launch of the campaign today, 4,000 urban areas along with the national capital of India is set to try out waste segregation at source campaign to tackle the country’s waste problems. Waste segregation at source means that waste generators, households or commercial establishments, will not just dump their garbage – they will first segregate it into wet or kitchen waste which will be collected in Green Bins and dry waste which is non-biodegradable in blue bins. The segregation is the first step to scientific waste management. Once segregated each category of waste can then be treated separately rather than make its way to the landfill.
Also Read: Experts’ Opinion On Two-Bin Waste Segregation System India Launches On World Environment Day
Here are the highlights of the launch of the waste management campaign by M Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi:
- Launch Of #BlueGreenPledge | M Venkaiah Naidu launched the #BlueGreenPledge campaign at New Delhi’s Talkatora Indoor Stadium to start the waste management revolution initiated by the government on the World Environment Day.
- Talking About Targets | Starting today, the government will make sure that it reaches to each and every household in the country and make them aware about the concept of waste segregation at source. The aim is to achieve the target of at least 100% segregation at source by October 2, 2017. The next goal is to treat the segregated waste effectively, the government is committed in achieving 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste by October 2, 2019.
- Introduction Of New Nationwide Two-Bin Guidelines | Mr Naidu introduced the guideline for the nationwide two-bin system. Green bin will be used for biodegradable waste and blue bin will be used for non-biodegradable waste by all the 4,000 cities across India. Highlighting the importance of waste segregation, M Venkaiah Naidu added, “It is not just the government’s job to keep the nation swachh. Take charge and adopt the two-bin system. Segregation of waste at source helps in waste to compost, waste to energy and recycling. This way we will help in decreasing load from our dying landfills.”
- Flagging Off New Vehicles | The Urban Development minister also flagged off the new vehicles in New Delhi which will help in the treatment of the segregated waste efficiently. It is a guideline passed by the government to city’s municipal corporation and local bodies that only accept segregated waste from the localities.
Flagging off the segregated waste collection vehicles in New Delhi after the launch of #BlueGreenPledge campaign pic.twitter.com/7F5JoNyoeQ
— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) June 5, 2017
- Felicitation For Green Work | During the launch, the minister also felicitated Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Hotels, Citizens and Municipal workers of New Delhi with green awards for their inspiring contributions towards solid waste management. The gifts and awards distributed were made out of trash.
- Cartoons To Teach Children Waste Management | To inculcate the understanding of waste management in children, the government also launched a comic book which will have waste management guidelines. The book will be distributed in all Delhi schools soon.
- Need For Waste Management Awareness | Talking about the recent accident in which an e-rickshaw driver died because he stopped two people from urinating in the open, Mr Naidu said, “If this type of an incident can take place today when Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is in full swing, then this means we still need to create a lot of awareness among people.
- Taking The Swachhta Pledge | Mr Naidu also made ‘Delhi Wasi’ take the Swachhta Pledge – ‘I will not litter, will use two-bin system, will segregate waste and use green bin for dumping my kitchen and wet waste and blue bin for non-biodegradable waste.’
- Pledge For Green India | The Minister also pledged to segregate waste and become a part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan mega waste management campaign.
- An Agreement To Convert Waste To Electricity | During the launch an agreement between the government and IL&FS was also passed which showed that all the segregated waste will be used to form energy efficiently with minimal amount of inert waste going to landfills. Mr Naidu signed off by saying, “I invite every one of you to take swachh India as a priority and do your bit towards the environment.”
