New Delhi: Situated in Mumbai, a city which often grabs headlines for its overgrown landfills and increasing waste management woes, Khar Gymkhana has recently been honoured by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for efficiently integrating the principles of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Acknowledging the efforts of one of the oldest clubs, BMC’s H-West ward presented a memento to Khar Gymkhana for being the first club in Mumbai to send zero waste on the landfill. Since last year, the Gymkhana has been treating all its wet garbage through the composting process within its premises.
At a time when all the bulk waste generators and societies in Mumbai are struggling in waste segregation, the Khar gymkhana has already reduced its garbage generation by 50 per cent.
Having three restaurants in its premises, the club, before the composting process, used to generate around 300 kilos of garbage daily, which has subsequently been reduced to 150 in last one year. Currently all its wet garbage is converted into manure. Around 100 kilos of compost is produced everyday which is used on their cricket field, in nearby societies and some of it is given to the civic body.
In the last 10 months, 7-8 trucks of compost have been collected by the BMC. Installing a composting machine last year was part of the gymkhana’s ‘Go Green’ initiative.
We at Khar Gymkhana are passionately involved with the ‘Go Green’ movement and have pledged to do our bit for the environment as it’s the least we can do ensure that our planet remains habitable. We also endeavor to increase awareness for this cause, especially among our youngsters who need to realise the importance of this movement, says Gaurav Kapadia, General Secretary, Khar Gymkhana.
In 2015, the ‘Go Green’ was initiated to spread awareness on waste management and sanitation among our members. Under the initiative the club conducts several activities like wall paintings and hosting a number of competitions. It also conducted educative classes in creative and fun ways. For instance, the club had once got battery operated cars for children. Taking forward the movement, the club decided to help the civic body by treating all its waste.
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The journey towards zero waste management has not been without hitches. In initial stages, it took a while before all the three restaurants started to segregate waste. To begin with, all the staff members were asked to join the ‘Go Green’ initiative. After conducting several sessions on waste segregation with the restaurant staff and the housekeeping team of the club, the composting process was executed.
Anything that is new takes time to develop. However, now the housekeeping staff has mastered the composting process, adds Mr Kapadia.
Inspired by the efforts of the club, neighbouring societies are also in the process of switching to the composting process. Ekta Heights, one of the prime buildings of Khar has already replicated the composting model.
Under the ‘Go Green’ movement, the club is now asking all its members to switch to e-magazines and save paper. “The club gives out magazine to all its members every month. In a bid to save on paper, nearly 300 members have opted for its e-copy,” says Mr Kapadia.
To keep all its members up-to-date about the environment and waste management, the club will churn out articles in the issue every month in its magazines.
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