Ahmedabad couple shows how to go 'wasteless'

A city-based couple's way of living, if emulated, could help Ahmedabad address its waste generation problem. For, the couple's biodegradable waste generation is practically zero as in the last two years they managed to convert all of it into compost.

The couple, Vivek and Brinda Shah, began to cut down on their waste two years ago after first learning of permaculture. "We have a bungalow and a garden too. So we use all our vegetable, food and garden waste to convert it into compost. The only waste generated is plastic and such," said Vivek, who even uses paper and cardboard waste to create compost for his garden. The couple live in Ambawadi.

Interestingly, when they initially began their plans were received skeptical by friends and family. "If we are short of biodegradable waste we don't mind picking leaves and such from the society. It does surprise some people,"said Shah. He said in the last two years, the use of compost has also shown a visible change in the quality of their garden.

"We have tried to encourage more people in our society to adopt the method because that is the only way we can address the problem of mounting waste," said Shah. Interestingly, the couple also makes it a point to avoid takeaways in their bid to avoid waste. "We may opt for takeaways perhaps once or twice a year. What it does is generate more waste for us and we want to avoid it," said Shah. He said the only way for the city to address the problem of rising pirana is to drastically cut down on its waste generation. Shah believes that with the right attitude even apartments can come together to pool in their biodegradable waste to create their own compost.