Waste recycling to begin at Mumbai schools

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has initiated the second phase of its waste management project after recently signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government on assessing the vulnerability of the state to climate change. For the second phase, TERI plans to involve students, teachers and the larger school community in the city. The project is called SEARCH and was launched across the country in 2009 to create awareness amongst educational institutes on waste and the habit of reducing, reusing and recycling.

TERI has involved around 40 schools in the city as part of the programme and the institute is engaging with NGOs Are You Recycling (RUR) and Stree Mukti Sanghatana (SMS) to reach out to more schools and ensure waste collection.

“The project will be functional till April 2011, and it will be upscaled to reach out to a total of 1,20,000 students and teachers. We will help schools set-up waste collection centres for collecting dry waste, recyclables and used Tetra Pak cartons. The main aim is to convert schools into a garbage-free zone,” said Ranjana Saikia, director, environment education and youth services division, TERI.

The first phase of the pilot project saw the initiative implemented across 60 schools in Delhi and Bangalore. The programme will focus on educating school students on environment in general and recycling in specific. “We will also educate students on the benefit of carton packaging, which keeps the food safe and is also easier to recycle. We are partnering with Tetra Pak to set-up the collection centres for recycling used Tetra Pak cartons,” Saikia said.

Even schools are also voluntarily engaging in environment friendly practices. Billabong International School at Malad has started its garbage recycling practices by educating students on distinguishing between dry and wet garbage. Different coloured dustbins are being placed in and around the school premises for different type of waste.