Recently, Overseas Apartments in Sector 50 of Noida started a pilot on providing consolidated food waste to external vendor for compost generation. The society generates 70 kg of food waste every day, or 500gm per family per day.
More than 50 flats have signed up for keeping separate bins at home.
The housekeeping staff has been trained on the new collection and separation process. The vendor machine comes at around 1pm and takes away the food waste.
Initially the waste management of the society lacked standard practises — garbage was often sorted in the open, in the stilt area of the blocks. This was not only a health hazard for the staff, but also for the residents.
But eventually, a more scientific waste management programme was put in place, with help from the RWA. The following steps were introduced:
Garbage bins placed in key areas of society to minimise littering by residents (also signboards at entry points)
2. Segregation of waste at source level (homes), with separate bins for dry and wet waste
3. Monthly cleaning drives to involve residents in cleaning of common areas
4. Education, training and continuous monitoring of the initiative
Now, the question is can — with systemic changes and co-operation from residents — food waste be reduced by 50 per cent to 250 gm per flat per day?
Not impossible, right?
