🌱 What Happened
In Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, a waste management initiative has been transforming the city. Launched in 2015, the city adopted a waste management model that promotes segregation at source and recycling. This model named Gandagi Bharat Chhodo or ‘Quit India Garbage’ has been implemented by the local municipality with the help of the residents.
💡 Impact
- The city generates 45-50 tons of waste per day, and over 95% of it is recycled.
- Over 450 women, known as the ‘Green Group’, have been earning a livelihood through waste collection and recycling.
- The city’s waste is converted into compost, and the dry waste is sold off to companies for recycling.
📍 The Bigger Picture
This initiative not only solves the problem of waste disposal but also contributes to poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. It has become a model for other cities and towns in India. It has also caught the attention of international organizations like the UN, which declared Ambikapur as the second cleanest city in India in 2020.
Going forward, the municipal corporation plans to launch a ‘zero waste’ campaign with the goal of achieving 100% waste segregation at source and complete recycling. The success of this initiative stands as a testament to the power of community involvement and good governance. It serves as an inspiration for other regions to adopt similar practices in waste management.
Read more about this on the official UN Environment Programme website.