90% of residents of one of the biggest co-op housing societies has started the process in earnest
Nirmala Khanolkar a 67-year-old resident of Abhinav Nagar in Borivli (E) who has diligently been practicing waste segregation for the past five years would fret while handing over the waste to BMC, saying she has seen them mixing the dry and wet waste while transporting it. However, her smile is back as her society is among the first to tell BMC that from this month, they will be managing their own waste.
One of the biggest private layouts in the city spread over 32 acres and housing 200 bungalows with around 700 families, the management of Abhinav Nagar Co-operative Housing Society has initiated full-fledged waste segregation in its complex since July 15, and already 90 per cent of residents have started segregating waste. They also organised a day-long workshop on waste segregation on July 9.
"We always wanted to manage our own waste, and with BMC planning to make segregation compulsory from October 2, it seemed a perfect opportunity for a huge society like ours. So even before BMC could send its first notice to us, we sent them a letter stating they could stop door-to-door garbage collection from our society," shared Hemant Gavankar, Secretary of Abhinav Nagar Co-operative Housing Society.
Explaining further, he said that once they had decided to go ahead with the plan, they got Sanjeevani S3, a Malad-based solid waste management company on board. The company held a day-long workshop explaining to residents as well as employees who collect waste, the concept of segregation and waste management.
"In fact, since July 15, we have our team members moving house to house along with labourers who collect dry and wet waste in separate bins. They check waste coming from each house and immediately inform the families if they find the waste has been mixed," shared Zulkif Shaikh, Head of Sanjeevani S3. He added that the most common mistake was putting milk packets in the bag meant for wet waste or disposing coconut and egg shells as dry waste.
The complex generates around 350 kg of garden waste, 500 kg of wet waste and 120 kg of dry waste. "We got a heavy duty shredder last month to finely chop the leaves, stems and branches. Along with it, all the wet waste collected will be put up in pits for vermicomposting. The dried waste collected is taken away by Sanjeevani S3 and they are also helping us gather e-waste, which they will pass on to organisations for responsible recycling," said Gavankar.
Atul Rao, Assistant Municipal Commissioner for R/Central ward office said that Abhinav Nagar could be a model for people from bigger societies to visit and understand how segregation can be carried out. "I have visited the society and have appreciated their work. In fact, other buildings can follow their example and begin managing waste instead of waiting for BMC to send them notice," he said.
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 "Waste management")
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