Nagpur Gets Its First Waste Management Park

It is the first of its kind in the city, and is located inside the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) campus. Last week it was inaugurated on by Shekhar Mande, director general of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and other dignitaries. The park focusses on effective waste management and gives examples through various figurines made out of waste. The park follows a similar initiative in Delhi, the Waste to Wonder park, which is already quite popular.

The waste management park exhibits varied things made from waste and is a true example of how waste can be decorated. While a water fountain has been fabricated from old laboratory sink, flowerbed has been made using scrapped fiber slide and a figurine of a lady has been made using offcut iron. The park also has two huts which function like a learning center for people interested in knowing about different kinds of waste – namely hazardous waste, construction, and demolition (C&D) waste, biomedical/reject waste and others. The learning center highlights what an individual can do to reduce his/her waste generation. Lastly, the park hosts a compost pit too.

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Emphasising on waste management and segregation, Atya Kapley, head of director’s research cell,” The waste is actually divided into seven different categories but, neither do people know about it nor is it possible for individuals to practice it at home. What we suggest is ‘2 bin 1 bag’ which simply means collect dry and wet waste in two separate bins and hazardous waste in a bag.”

The park also has an exhibit area inside a hut which highlights what citizens can do to reduce waste generation. “Using one bamboo toothbrush is equivalent to four toothbrushes, one reusable bag is the same as using 170 plastic bags, one metal straw is equal to using 540 plastic straws, ” a board states.

As per the information displayed in the park, an average person generates 500-grams to one kilogram of solid waste daily. Another exhibit area provides detailed information about wet, dry, hazardous and e-waste. Neeri is aiming at expanding the park by building more informative huts. The institute also plans to keep it open for the general public, without any entry fee. Based on people’s interest and footfall, NEERI will be expanding the park in the days to come.

Picture credit: Banega Swachh India