Soon, a solid waste treatment park, to be set up at the School of Environmental Studies at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat), will educate the public and other stakeholders on effective waste management.
The project is part of the public outreach initiative of the varsity. It assumes significance at a time when Kochi remains clueless about managing tonnes of solid waste generated daily, especially after the Brahmapuram deadlock.
“The park will have exhibits and facilities that will offer hands-on experience to learners in scientifically managing waste. The project is at the concept stage,” said V. Sivanandan Achari, Director, School of Environmental Studies, Cusat.
For those enrolling for the training programme, the park will have live exhibits demonstrating waste management at source. “The idea of a park-like facility to train the public, those involved in management and collection of solid waste, and officials emerged on the inference that education and training remained the key to overcoming the city’s garbage woes,” Dr. Achari said.
The initial plan is to conduct crash courses in solid waste management focusing on families in Kochi. “We can also train women affiliated to agencies like Kudumbashree in collecting and disposing waste in accordance with the best practices,” he added.
Holding that waste management should begin at home, Dr. Achari called for a cultural shift when it comes to management of solid waste at households.
“We spend lakhs for constructing houses and kitchens. But we should ask why we are reluctant to even purchase good-quality coloured buckets in which segregated waste could be kept,” he said.
Suggesting that local bodies appoint qualified professionals for overseeing solid waste management, Dr. Achari said they could be recruited through the Public Service Commission. “Two to three wards could have one such officer/scientist who will be responsible for co-ordinating waste management systems and practices,” he observed.