Gurugram: Cutting plastic footprint by changing some home truths

GURUGRAM: By banning the use of trash bags, collecting wrappers of processed food for recycling and conducting audits for compliance – some residential societies in the city have been early adopters of scientific segregation, which the waste management process is struggling with, both in the city and nationally.
In Gurugram, for instance, Ecogreen's latest survey showed only 36% of households are segregating waste.
In Vipul Belmonte, located Sector 53, around 1,000-odd residents collect all waste from their houses, segregate it, keep multi-layered plastics separate and give it to an agency for recycling. “We have 312 flats and we generate 300kg of wet waste apart from dry and hazardous waste every day. We segregate 95% of the waste at source. Then we ask the recycling agency to visit the society every fortnight and we give them the multi layered plastics (MLP). Other items like plastic decorative items and balloons are not allowed in the society at all,” said Neena Gupta, a member of the society’s RWA.
MLPs are commonly used for packaging and have at least one layer of plastic with one or more layers of materials such as paper and aluminium foil. The wrappers of ready-to-eat snacks, chips, biscuits, noodles, juices, chocolates, mouth fresheners and tobacco products all fall under this category.
The ban on 19 single-use plastic (SUP) items, which will be enforced across the country from July 1, does not include MLPs. These make up a major chunk of plastic waste. “As MLPs are not recyclable and are very light, waste pickers decline to take them. They usually end up in landfills, where they are buried or burnt, polluting the soil or air. We wash the MLPs and store them properly so that they can be used later on,” Gupta said.
Other societies like Omaxe Nile in Sector 49 have been segregating waste since 2018 and encouraging behavioural change, little by little.
For instance, they urgen residents of the condominium to carry steel containers in case they go out to eat at restaurants and want to get takeaways. Items like garbage disposal bags, balloons and other such SUPs are prohibited in the society of 420 flats.
“Citizens are aware of the plastic menace, but we have to aim for behavioural change and communicate about the harm of plastic waste. We also don’t use bin bags while disposing of our waste every day. Instead, people are asked to use no coverings and clean the bins regularly by washing them,” said Jagriti Jagat, a resident.
The condominium launched its campaign to reduce plastic in 2018, and has built up its system to train everyone. “We trained the housekeeping staff, 400 domestic helpers, plumbers and guards that worked in our society so they could learn how to segregate waste. The training was mandatory,” Jagat said.
Now, every house in Omaxe Nile needs to have three bins for segregation, electronic waste is separate, plastic liners are to be completely avoided, and products such as sanitary napkins and diapers have to be wrapped in paper and not plastic bags. To ensure that residents comply with the rules, the society’s RWA also carries out monthly audits of towers and can issue penalties to those who don't comply.
“If a household is giving mixed waste, they are educated about it a couple of times. If they still don’t change their ways, we send a formal notice, failing which they can be charged a penalty. We established our green waste plant in 2020. As a society we also try to ensure that our dry waste is given out to collectors who salvage the majority of it and make sure that the least amount reaches the landfills,” Jagat added.
In other societies, residents have mapped use of SUPs, and tried to counter it with restrictions and awareness drives. Kavita Bansal, of La Laguna in Sector 53, said: “We have educated residents and also workers, including domestic helpers, gardeners, guards and electricians. They were also given steel glasses, so they don’t need to use disposable cutlery. Every month, we also organise awareness camps in the society.”
Environmentalists said citizens derive satisfaction from trying to reduce their plastic footprint, but the government must introduce policies to institutionalise waste management. “The initiatives were steps in the right direction, but it needs to be done on a larger scale for bigger impact,” said Ashish Jain, director of the Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA).
“What we need is to strengthen the waste management practices i.e. segregated collection and processing waste through material recovery facilities in cities,” said Dr Ranjana Ray Chaudhuri, associate professor, waste management, TERI.