A 3-Phase Plan to Make Nilgiris Zero Waste To Landfill over the next 5 years.
Based on the Coonoor Model and its success, the organisation and the administration plan to emulate the same in other parts of the district.
Why?
- Mismanaged Waste is a Disaster on all Fronts and not confined to Coonoor alone.
- The Nilgiris and the associated chain of mountains, The Western Ghats, are Biodiversity Hotspots.
- Mismanaged Waste here and elsewhere in this mountain chain, is bound to have both short and long term deleterious consequences on this fragile ecosystem.
- The health of the rivers which flow through the plains of Peninsular India, is entirely dependent on the health of this eco-sensitive mountain chain.
How & When?
Phase 1: 1st Half of FY 2025-26
Financial breakeven in the existing unit and / or reduction in gap funding through innovations which bring down handling costs – better marketing – EPR to cover Transportation costs of material destined for co-processing in cement kilns.
Phase 2: 2nd Half of FY 2025-26
With the twin goals of 100% handling & zero-landfill having been attained, set new goals for segregation and the quantum of waste being collected and transported to the existing unit.
Expansion of Solid Waste Management Activities to nearby Gram Panchayats by collaborating with contiguous rural local bodies and explore possibilities to transport and process the waste generated to a common waste management run along similar lines as the existing one, also try and strengthen other facilities belonging to other urban local bodies.
This phase will need strong political and administrative commitment, for such a measure will need policy level decisions at state and district level. If it attains fruition, the move will help in preventing much more waste from being mismanaged.
Phase 3: FYs 2026-27 & 2027-28
Identify and establish decentralised common waste management facilities throughout the district . In addition to political and administrative commitment, such a enterprise will need community mobilisation, partnerships with like-minded organisations, and, development of standardised but flexible operating procedures and monitoring indices. If this phase can be successfully implemented, it can be assumed that the major portion of the waste generated within this eco-sensitive district will be scientifically and safely managed.
