Where is all this waste coming from?

Learning to Live Sustainably, Day 5

We did good research on Solid Waste Management when we had first arrived in Chamoli. Pushpender Rawat, a localite, a mindful tourist guide, a nature lover in true sense had introduced us to the chaotic world of waste. Chaotic because the problem with waste is it is unorganized. And that’s most of the problem with waste.

If you are in India, and your waste is being collected from your home, there is a huge chance that an innocent child is sitting on a whole pile of it to segregate it. If only you would have segregated it at your home and the government would have had the collecting truck collect the segregated waste in different compartments which would then be directed to the allotted treatment centers, this innocent child could have a better life, as every human being deserves, as you think you deserve.

The waste collected from the city dustbins in Gopeshwar, the waste from my home, is thrown down a huge mountain, where it piles up on the slope only to be washed down during heavy rains, into the river we call Holy Ganga!

‘Out of sight, Out of mind’- The usual story of the waste in our Himalayas.

It was him, Mr. Rawat, who took us to this mountain bend, to acquaint us with the fate of unmanaged waste. He had done thorough research on this subject, of his locality, and of government plans regarding Solid Waste Management. On papers, the waste is being dealt with very very well.

There are enough waste management facilities in India. Factories that recycle waste, glass, plastics, paper, and even industries that convert waste to energy. The problem only being ‘unorganized’ waste. The factories are not receiving the segregated waste. And who is to be blamed for it, but ourselves?

Ever since, along with Pushpender Rawat, we too have incorporated the habit of segregating waste in day-to-day lives. We have separate bins for the wet kitchen waste and dry plastic and paper waste. We do not throw the glass bottles as they can be well reused, and constantly remind ourselves to minimize the rest.

Wet kitchen waste is a blessing in disguise to us. It’s the food for our farm!

Every third day in the week, we empty our kitchen waste in the compost pit to be processed into manure by nature’s force. Today was that day.

Segregated wet waste from the kitchen.

The organic waste is dumped in a small compost pit.

The waste is spread well over the width of the pit.

Fresh green leaves from the wild are cut and collected.

Adding green leaves makes the compost rich in nitrogen.

It is spread over the waste in the pit.

The Autumn leaves and dry litter is collected.

They provide a high carbon source for the compost.

The mixture of this biomass together generates heat for suitable composting conditions.

The pit is then closed with a thin layer of moist soil.

The Artist(s) behind the composting.

To maintain the moisture in the compost, the pit is covered well.

In a village setting, it is convenient to treat the wet waste on our own. Most of it can be fed to cows, who are the most magical processors giving the best manure, the Gobar! In cities, like all other facilities, it is important that the society, the immediate community make the facility. But why not? Everything you consume will end up as waste.