Regional Organic Congress on Waste Management and Climate Change: Delegates see Mysuru’s progress in sustainable waste practices
3 min read
Mysuru: Hasiru Dala, a non-profit organisation based in Karnataka, India, continues its mission to support waste pickers and informal waste collectors across the State.
With over 10,000 members, the organisation operates in cities such as Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belgaum and several others.
In Mysuru, Hasiru Dala has been actively working for the past eight years, engaging 300 waste pickers across six communities, and spearheading solid waste management projects.
On September 28, 2024, Hasiru Dala, in partnership with GAIA Asia, hosted the Regional Organic Congress on Waste Management and Climate Change. The event brought together 200 delegates from across India, South Asia and Southeast Asia, including mayors, government officials, civil society organisations, informal labour representatives, academics, farmers and other key stakeholders. The focus of the congress was to discuss sustainable waste management solutions and their role in addressing climate change.
As part of the congress, a team of 60 delegates visited several waste management facilities in Mysuru to witness the city’s progress in sustainable waste practices.
1. Nagawala Solid Waste Management Facility
The delegates first visited the Nagawala Solid Waste Management (SWM) Plant where Hasiru Dala, in collaboration with Ashraya Hastha Trust and the Gram Panchayat of Nagawala, has made significant strides in community-based waste management. The project focuses on raising awareness around health, financial and environmental impacts of waste management, particularly among marginalised groups. One of the notable achievements is the reduction of sanitary waste, with 96% of the village population transitioning from single-use sanitary pads to menstrual cups and cloth pads.
The Nagawala SWM facility includes a biogas plant, leaf composter, vermicomposting system, and dry waste processing unit. This center serves as a model for scientific waste management at the gram panchayat level and offers a blueprint for replication in other regions.
2. Hebbal Lake Rejuvenation Project
The next stop was the Hebbal Lake Rejuvenation Project, a large-scale environmental initiative aimed at restoring one of Mysuru’s crucial water bodies. Spearheaded by Sudha Murthy, former Chairperson of Infosys Foundation, this project has been instrumental in treating up to 80 lakh liters of sewage water daily, significantly improving water quality and restoring biodiversity.
With financial support and technical expertise from Infosys, the project is valued at approximately Rs 98 crore and aims to prevent pollutants from entering the lake, ensuring long-term ecological sustainability. The delegates were given an overview of the lake’s rejuvenation efforts and its positive environmental impact.
3. Zero Waste Management (ZWM) Plant, Old Kesare
The final visit was to the Zero Waste Management (ZWM) Plant in Old Kesare, Mysuru. Established in December 2020, this facility processes 2 tonnes of dry waste and 300 kilograms of wet waste daily, collected from 7,000 households. The plant employs a rigorous source segregation process, ensuring that waste is categorised into 23 different types for recycling. Recyclable materials are manually baled and sent to authorised recycling factories, while non-recyclable waste is sent to cement factories for co-processing.
The ZWM plant exemplifies a circular economy model, minimising waste sent to landfills and promoting resource recovery.
The congress and the subsequent field visits provided a platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices in waste management. Delegates were impressed with the innovative solutions being implemented in Mysuru, which can serve as models for other cities and regions across India and beyond. The event underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling waste management and climate change, with Hasiru Dala leading the charge towards a more sustainable future.
-Team Mysoorunews
Mysooru News
