| Zero Waste
Kovalam is envisaged as an attempt at implementing the Zero
Waste concepts at a beach destination, which hosts a fishing
village. The project started at the time when the dump-burn-bury
and incineration were the dominant waste handling methods.
This project followed the stopping of the incinerator proposal
by local groups and environmentalists. In three years time
it has grown into a model for efficient resource use and management
in the country. The efforts put in this project comprises
of building capacities and relations among the local community,
lobbying for policies in resource use, generating clean and
sustainable employment through discards recovery and an innovative
material substitution programme. International experience
was brought into this programme through continuous interactions
(through Waste-Not-Asia and GAIA meets, training through fellowship
on Zero Waste organized by GAIA and Ecology Centre, Berkeley,
the visit of Dr. Paul Connet in a skill-share).
While the project is founded
over the three basic principles “Efficiency, Economy
and Ethics”, it has achieved 100% diversion of biodegradable
discards from way side dumping and burning in all its implemented
areas and recovered 80% of biodegradable discards and 90%
of non degradable discards. The biodegradable discards were
recovered through anaerobic digestion as biogas and manure
and the fuel used for cooking, in the boiler and for electricity
generation. Non-degradable discards are diverted for recycling.
The project has created 104 new jobs in the 3sq. km region.
The Materials substitution programme has trained women and
youth in the locality to produce effective and locally available
environmentally friendly materials to replace many of the
disposable plastics materials use, especially in hotels, restaurants
and shops. Paper bags, Coconut shell utensils, Plates made
of palm sheath, cloth bags are some of these materials that
have seen viability in substitution and generating local business
and employment. While Zero Waste Kovalam could achieve marked
changes in material terms, the Zero Waste Centre, which was
established as a training and resource centre has been able
to help build relationships through community work and partnership
building among various stakeholders. The Centre supports a
variety of programmes including organic farming, children
for a toxic free world programme and even a once- in-a-month
organicbazaar. |
