Zero-garbage project bearing fruit in Pune

The recognition of zero-garbage area, a project initiated by Cummins under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Katraj area, by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) speaks of its success story.

The power leader firm and the civic body would soon implement this ISO-certified plan in 17 more wards of the city with its aim towards zero-garbage city. The state government also awarded a special recognition to the project for its efforts in the area of waste management.

The objective of the project was to create value out of waste by processing all organic materials within the ward’s boundaries and maximising dry waste recycling to minimise the need for landfill sites.

Under the project, the wet waste is being converted into biogas using technology developed by Mailhem Engineers, which helps run a Cummins genset installed in Katraj. The power generated is used to electrify the street lights of Katraj ward. It is a sustainable project that can be replicated in any city across India.

Cummins Group India head (corporate responsibility) S Ravichandran told DNA, “The Zero Garbage Ward Project aims at solid waste management that had emerged as one of the critical issues for the present and future of Pune. Out of the 17 wards, Cummins is interested to take part in Kothrud and Balewadi.”

“A major factor in both the sustainability and replicability of the new model is its reliance on the waste picker. Instead of turning its back on the informal sector, the zero garbage model incorporates it and makes use of the available manpower. The model enhances the quality of work of the waste picker, while also meeting the demands for neighbourhood cleanliness and limiting garbage sent to landfills,” Ravichandran said.

The public-private partnership developed a system for waste management that decentralises solid waste management and fully incorporates waste pickers, the members of society that pick through trash for plastics to sell, into the formal system.

In the new system, the PMC would continue several duties, including street sweeping and industrial waste collection. The change is in the system for household and commercial property waste, and complete integration of waste pickers into door-to-door services. The initiative also institutionalises payment for waste pickers for collecting waste at the household level.

Apart from Cummins and Janwani, SWaCH,  PMC, Lions Club and Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturers Association have joined hands to establish ward No 141 in Katraj as the first garbage-free ward in Pune.