Waste Management: The Imperative Need of the Hour for a Sustainable Future

In Ashoka’s near future, I envision a system with more student involvement, traceability of our waste, segregation at source by students and a more respectful, inclusive and caring environment for our staff who keep our university clean

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In 2017, the world witnessed a bizarre plight, one that it turned its eyes away from too quickly. Landfills in Delhi, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia collapsed, killing over 145 people, destroying houses and sweeping away cars. 50 tonnes of waste came crashing down from Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill, claiming two innocent lives. Can you imagine how excruciating and unbelievably heartbreaking it would be to breathe your last breath in darkness whilst being crushed by tonnes of garbage? Who is to say that the empty packet of chips or the bottle of coke that you threw away was not part of that waste that came crashing down, destroyed cars, took lives, and devastated families? That is a frightening yet real prospect. One that we need to and can deal with now.

In 2018, 11-year-olds at a school in New York managed to kickstart a movement for plastic-free lunch days that then spread throughout New York. These children are a testament to the fact that each action counts.

Several emerging initiatives and companies in India are also boldly and innovatively fighting this issue. LiveGreen@Ashoka Initiative enabled me to collaborate with two such organisations, Blue Planet and Attero. The Environment Ministry collaborated with Blue Planet during the Agneepath Fest to divert plastic waste from landfills. This organisation recycled the plastic waste we contributed into material for benches for children in government schools. On 28th September, Ashoka’s Environment Ministry with LiveGreen@Ashoka had the pleasure of hosting Attero, an E-Waste Recycling company recognised by NASA and accredited by the United Nations. They have a patented technology with the unique ability to recycle lithium batteries. They conducted a talk in which they spoke to students about growing India’s eco-friendly mining sector, reducing our dependence on imports and building sustainable environments by closing supply chains through E-Waste recycling. According to research, 7% of the world’s gold is lying in the E-waste in landfills. Attero and other E-waste recycling companies are helping us reverse this problem, and you can too. Waste management in India is not only an environmental but also a grave social issue. Those most directly affected are usually from the lower socioeconomic brackets of India. Santosh, a waste picker in India’s unprotected informal sector, says, “The waste we pick is not ours, it is yours. And people call us dirty.”

While we have several long-term goals to achieve, such as segregation at source, alternative packaging, protection of waste pickers currently under the informal economy and collaboration between the public and private waste management sectors, there are simple things we Ashokans can do right now. Simply be more accountable and sensitive. Think twice before ordering products with excessive packaging, processed foods that come in plastic wrappers, or immediately upgrading to the next latest model of your gadgets. In Ashoka’s near future, I envision a system with more student involvement, traceability of our waste, segregation at source by students and a more respectful, inclusive and caring environment for our staff who keep our university clean.

While environmental issues can be daunting and tempt you to live in denial, tackling them with like-minded people can be an extremely fulfilling and meaningful experience. If you are interested in anything environment or sustainability-related, definitely reach out to LiveGreen@Ashoka Initiative irrespective of any previous experience. It provided me with a great opportunity to explore the field of sustainability with the unwavering support of Dr Rajni Kaushik and all the other student volunteers at LiveGreen@Ashoka. It is your chance to make a difference.

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