By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 22 Jul: With the support of the Irrigation Department, Waste Warriors Society conducted a composting workshop and guided a team for the construction and maintenance of three composting pits at the official residence of Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.
CM Rawat inaugurated these pits, today, saying, “This is a very good beginning that will help to utilise the food waste, thereby reducing the diseases born due to this when left unutilised. This is one kind of a zero-budget programme and I thank Waste Warriors Society for their efforts in taking a lead on this.”
He also distributed and promoted the use of cloth bags offered by Waste Warriors and made an appeal for the public to use cloth bags instead of plastic carry bags.
Other prominent officials who attended the composting workshop included Dr Bhupendra Kaur Aulakh (Secretary) and Mukesh Mohan (Chief Engineer) of the Irrigation Department; and Shailesh Bagoli (Secretary, Urban Development). Those present from Waste Warriors were Naveen Kumar Sadana (Outreach & Partnerships Manager), Aman Grover (Operations Manager), and Ankita Chamola (Outreach & Partnerships Assistant), who conducted the programme.
Household waste generally comprises around 60% of food/organic waste. This waste could be of great value if segregated and composted at a household or community level. But, unfortunately, due to the lack of awareness and resources, citizens are mixing and dumping this organic waste in municipal bins which are going to the trenching grounds, leading to more diseases and hazardous environmental issues.
To raise awareness on these issues amongst Doon citizens, Waste Warriors is running a campaign, “Segregate Your Waste & Save Your Environment”. Under this campaign, the Waste Warriors team is conducting workshops and awareness-raising programmes on waste segregation and composting of food and garden waste across Dehradun city.