Residents, NGOs join hands to collect dry waste across Chennai

CHENNAI: To ensure dry waste does not go to landfills, a group of resident welfare associations from Adyar, Velachery and nearby areas, along with NGOs associated with solid waste management, on Saturday embarked on a dry-waste collection drive from six locations.
They roped in student volunteers from Anna University, MOP Vaishnav College, Loyola College, MIT campus, New College, Loyola College and Madras School of Social Work. The waste collected included used plastic items, electronic waste such as keyboards, shoes, slippers, old clothes and helmets. The collected waste is sent to an aggregator and once segregated, it is sent to a recycler.
Rukmani of AWCEN Foundation and one of the organisers of the drive, said they were yet to calculate the amount of waste collected as the drive will continue on Sunday. “The aim is to ensure lesser waste goes into landfill, and that waste can be reused. We had a good turnout of college students and like-minded residents,” she said.
Dr Manish Narnaware, corporation deputy commissioner of health, kicked off the event, along with chief engineer (solid waste management) N Mahesan. “I request all the citizens to help the city to reduce, reuse and recycle waste and visit the six locations and participate in the drive, ensuring the dry waste does not go to dumping,” said Narnaware. Corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi through a video message urged people to participate in it.
Ann Anra, founder of Wasted 360, a waste aggregator, said, “People can participate in the drive tomorrow (Sunday) 10am to 4pm. Those who cannot, can give the waste at our office in T Nagar.”