REDUCE, RECYCLE & REUSE: Campaign On Waste Management

The Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar (My Life, My Clean City) campaign was launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on May 15 as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0. The three-week campaign, based on the three Rs (Reduce, Recycle and Reuse) ofwaste management will conclude on June 5, coinciding with the World Environment Day.

For promoting waste management in essence, the ongoing campaign would centre on establishing RRR Centres or collection points, where citizens can contribute unused household items like clothes, shoes, books, newspapers, toys and plastic for reuse or recycling. It aims to create a zero-waste ecosystem and foster a cleaner and greener urban India while bringing about environment-friendly behavioralshift through individual actions.

In line with the nation-wide initiative, the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC)also launched an RRR Centre on May 20. The DDSC Stadium will serve as the collection point (RRR Centre), which was inaugurated by the President of the Naga Women Hoho Dimapur, Neinuo Kire. Kire regarded the initiative as a movement that will also spread awareness and help in instilling a sense of responsibility. She added that the concept of the three Rs, if implemented properly will aid in sustainable living.

Members of the Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation and GBs Union were also in attendance.

DMC Administrator, Manpai Phom said that the DDSC stadium will be the centralised location for collecting recyclable items from May 27 to June 3. He urged all the colony councils in the Municipal area to participate, while informing that the best performing localities will be awarded with cash prizes.

He informed that the first phase collection will be conducted on May 27 and second collection on June 3, thereby informing colony councils to identify its own RRR centre. “There are 97 colonies (falling under 23 different wards) in the municipal area. Let us take this opportunity to revisit Swachh Bharat Mission and try to fulfill the aims and requirements,” he said.

While admitting that there is no system in place for waste segregation in Dimapur, he said that the idea is to focus on the long termbenefits and work towards inculcating waste segregation.

‘We are in a crucial stage of our existence’
In Kohima, Deputy Commissioner, Shanavas C inaugurated the campaign at the office of the Kohima Smart City Development Ltd.

Sharing grave concerns on the increasing wastes and pollution, Shanavassaid, “we have a problem, we don’t think too far and we don’t think too long. Our thought processes are very minimal. We want to be so comfortable in our home and environment.”

Though Nagaland’s contributions to the carbon footprints maybe minimum due to lack of industries, Shanavas said the kind of wastes and pollution we are generating maybe doing much more. Sustainable development, he asserted is very crucial for the future generations, and the 3 Rs is crucial at this stage.

Though there is a big challenge due to lack of a proper recycling plant and solid waste management plant, he said, as consumers, the people can help in reducing wastes.

‘We cannot expect change in one day, but we must ensure that we make the change happen in our state. Our actions should speak much louder than our words,’ stated Shanavas.

In her keynote address, Administrator, Kohima Municipal Council, T. Lanusenla Longkumer said ‘it is obvious we are in a crucial stage of our existence. If we do not change our lifestyle, our human race, may even become extinct because at the rate we are going, we may achieve our extinction in a couple of hundred years.’

Making conscious lifestyle choices today will have positive impact in the future, stated Longkumer.

She informed that today RRR Centres for 6 wards was inaugurated where another 9 centres are located in various wards/colonies of the municipality. These centres will receive old unused items such as clothes, footwear, household items, electronic items, toys, books, paper etc. Here, people can give their unused/old items and also pick up if they like any items which others have donated.

‘By giving, we are reducing buying new ones, at the same time by reusing we are reducing the waste that goes to the landfill. By recycling/ upcycling we are reusing what would have gone to the landfill,’ she stated.

Meanwhile, the ward/sector colony authority will be responsible for announcement of the location of the RRR Centre in their respective jurisdiction. Women and youth organisations will be responsible for mobilizing the collection.