Delhi NCR societies and institutions recognized for their dedication to sustainable waste management
The Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA) organized the Culmination and Felicitation Ceremony of Project SORT (Segregation of Organic Waste for Recycling and Treatment), Phase IV of Delhi NCR, on May 20th at the prestigious India International Centre in Delhi.
The event, graced by the presence of esteemed guests, aimed to acknowledge and honor the exceptional efforts made by waste collectors, institutions, and societies in Delhi NCR to combat pollution and promote sustainable waste management.
Honorable Additional Commissioner of the Unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Amit Kumar Sharma, IRS, along with Rubal Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Shahdara South Zone, MCD, and Manish Meena, Assistant Commissioner of West Zone, MCD, were among the distinguished attendees who lent their support to the cause. Their presence served as a testament to the significance of the initiative and the importance of recognizing the individuals and organizations dedicated to creating a cleaner and greener environment.
Project SORT, which has been successfully implemented in over 100 societies and institutions in Delhi NCR since 2018, with an additional 50 societies covered in the year 2022-23, aligns with the vision and mission of the Swachh Bharat Mission, the flagship campaign by the Government of India. This commendable project was spread across 34 locations in six zones of Delhi and has treated approximately 500 Metric Tons of organic/wet waste within the premises of societies and institutions, resulting in the production of 70 Metric Tons of compost by the year 2022-23.
At the heart of Project SORT lies the key objective of instilling behavioral change among residents, encouraging them to segregate waste at the source and treat organic waste on-site using the innovative Aerobin Composter. The project has successfully demonstrated a sustainable decentralized solid waste management system, enabling efficient handling of household waste. The residents, who played a crucial role in driving the project’s success and ensuring its long-term sustainability, were duly acknowledged and rewarded by the Honorable Additional Commissioner, MCD, for their remarkable dedication and efforts on the journey toward becoming “Zero Waste” entities.
During his address, Amit Kumar Sharma praised the implementation model of Project SORT and emphasized the importance of behavioral change among waste generators in achieving the status of zero waste. He stated, “It is very important to inculcate behavioral change among waste generators if we want to achieve the status of zero waste entity. Project SORT efficiently addresses this as one of its objectives is to enhance the rate of source segregation through community participation.”
Rubal Singh congratulated the Project SORT team for their outstanding initiatives in wet waste management. He highlighted the efficiency of the composting technology employed in the project, which has motivated societies to install composters within their premises to process their wet waste. Singh remarked, “These composters are playing a crucial role in making the societies zero waste.”
Manish Meena echoed Singh’s sentiments and emphasized that the project promotes source segregation of waste followed by maximum recovery through on-site treatment of organic waste. He appealed to societies and educational institutes to embrace this project and continue the decentralized waste management system introduced by Project SORT within their neighborhoods.
The success of Project SORT, which has positively impacted over 100 societies and institutions in Delhi NCR, has resonated with citizens who now recognize decentralized waste management as the key solution to India’s waste management challenges. By adopting the practices advocated through SORT training, communities can reduce the amount of waste reaching landfills while enabling efficient recycling and treatment. Furthermore, the project’s activities contribute to improving the working conditions of waste workers.
Ashish Jain, Founder Director of IPCA, expressed his satisfaction with the project’s achievements, stating, “After achieving great success in more than 100 societies/institutions in Delhi NCR till date, the citizens of these cities have realized that decentralized waste management is the key to solving the problem of waste management in India.” He also emphasized the importance of spreading awareness about decentralized waste management to every stakeholder across India, using efficient technologies like aerobic composting, to preserve the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from waste transportation and processing at landfills.
Dr. Radha Goyal, Deputy Director of IPCA, presented eye-opening facts about the SORT initiative during the ceremony. She emphasized that India generates a staggering 1,60,000 tons of solid waste per day, with a collection rate of only 50%. However, Dr. Goyal expressed her gratitude for the concerted efforts undertaken by IPCA through Project SORT, which has successfully been implemented in 128 locations, effectively contributing to waste reduction and recycling. She reiterated IPCA’s vision, which aims to spread awareness about decentralized waste management to all stakeholders in India, using efficient technologies such as aerobic composting. This comprehensive approach will not only address waste management challenges but also help preserve the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste transportation and landfill processing.
The Culmination and Felicitation Ceremony of Project SORT served as an inspiring reminder of the power of collective action and the remarkable impact individuals and organizations can have on creating a sustainable future. With initiatives like Project SORT, India is paving the way for a cleaner and greener tomorrow.