Advocating Source Segregation Is The Core Of All Our Volunteering Activities
Source segregation may sound a simple process to many, but it is way more important than we think. We are living in times where the use of the natural resources has risen substantially, consumption has increased multifold but recycling and reuse which are key to circular economy have not progressed with equivalent speed. The reason is lack of awareness. Increased consumption, increasing trash without source segregation has resulted in overburdened landfills. Such a scenario has ecological, social and economic ramifications.
While
we embark on a journey of circular economy where whatever we consume is
reused and recycled, it needs a more structured and multipronged
approach. Policy framework, roadmap, and technological innovations will
all happen at a macro level. This is important, but what’s needed the
most is citizen’s awareness and engagement. As India progresses rapidly
and the per capita income rises, so will the consumption. Whether it is
increasing consumption of food products, materials ordered from outside,
more lifestyle products, more household equipment and machines,
electronic items, all this is adding to more and more waste generation.
If the generated waste is segregated at source, it would boost the
process of recycling, reduce pollution as only the degradable waste
would remain for disposition, it would save a lot of time and would save
the environment as landfills will have lesser harmful and toxic gases
and would promote better health.
All
this is non- negotiable but the key remains citizen’s awareness and
engagement. Volunteering activities during big events, festivities or
otherwise do a lot of good. But we make sure that the volunteering
activities are not just about litter picking. Talking to people, making
them aware about the importance of source segregation lies at the heart
of our campaigns. After all volunteering is not only on the field, but
one should be a volunteer at home also . It's an individual social
responsibility . This is because one person or a group doing things in a
proper way inspires others and the chain expands from there and only
then can we be able to achieve sustainability.
Advocating source segregation is the core of all our volunteering activities.
Sathya Natarajan
Lead Volunteer APCCI
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