Objective

To set up a model ward-level waste management system in a selected ward in Gurugram, support the municipal corporation to replicate the model in another ward and replicate the Alag Karo model in a residential area of Delhi.

Context

Urbanisation and increasing consumption levels are leading to an increase in municipal solid waste generation in Indian cities. Waste management infrastructure and the capacity of municipal bodies to manage these increasing quantities of waste remain limited. Waste that is collected is not segregated at source, rendering it unfit for recycling, co-processing or composting, which makes it challenging to divert waste away from landfills.

The Alag Karo program was conceived for the city of Gurugram as an awareness and behaviour change initiative to handhold the residential complexes, schools and commercial establishments to implement source-segregation and institutionalise it, for building capacities of waste workers at the back-end to improve recycling rates and reduce waste burning and dumping. Two key learnings from Alag Karo were- first, that customised training content and delivery are required for different stakeholders such as house residents, management association, housekeeping staff, etc. which greatly helps in enabling behavioural change and second, institutionalising source segregation through contracts/documentation of penalties/guidebooks are crucial for long-term sustainability.

While the precedent program targeted high-rise residential societies, cities in India comprise diverse and complex demographics which include many different types of housing settlements and waste generators.

Approach including the target group

To account for a more diverse and complex set of settlements and waste generators, Alag Karo 2.0 takes source segregation to a Ward level, i.e., the smallest administrative unit in a city, which typically consists of all kinds of generators such as neighbourhood shops, malls, schools, hospitals, street markets, commercial establishments, houses and condominiums, etc. Furthermore, a ward also has a network of informal sector as well as municipal staff for providing waste management services. However, a system at ward level in which these entities could work together for sustainable solid waste management is missing.

The program approach involves creation of decentralised ward-level waste management systems, by strengthening waste segregation, ensuring segregated collection of waste and proper disposal; Working with all stakeholders in the ward: by creating awareness on waste segregation among citizens, formalising selected waste collectors and setting-up infrastructure for dry waste collection; Replicating the Alag Karo model in NCT of Delhi (Vasant Kunj).

The program works along with the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) to set up a model, a standardised approach for implementing source segregation and setting up decentralised waste processing facilities; monitor and supervise as well as initiate the replication of this model to atleast 2 more wards. The ward level waste management model includes a mobile software that monitors and tracks the collection of segregated waste, helping bring accountability in the entire process.

In addition, the program also aims to convert atleast 1 Dhalao (open dumping site) into a formal waste collection centre and will support the waste workers to help sort dry recyclables.

Highlight Activities

Under the project, regular door-to-door awareness on source segregation is being conducted in residential societies, commercial spaces, public places etc., in Ward 32 of Gurugram and a selected geography in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. An MoU was signed in the beginning of the project with the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram towards making Ward 32 a self-sustaining ward in terms of its waste management activities.

The objective is to bring about a behavioural change in people in terms of daily source segregation of waste, and with training and capacity building of the informal sector waste workers – increase the resource recovery from waste to 90%. (approx.)

Another important aspect of the project is upgrading infrastructure of existing dumpsites (Dhalao) to convert them into dry waste sorting centres, with the wet waste being diverted for composting – thus only rejects finally reaching the landfill. In these dry waste centres, the informal sector workers can sort the collected dry waste and take forward for further processing, thus providing added revenue for them.

An IT tool has also been developed to track the collection of daily segregated waste by the waste workers, a QR code system is being put in place for them to regularly scan and upload waste collection data and the route of waste collection. This helps in mapping the waste value chain which can further aid in decision making.