Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative

Monsoon brings much relief from increasingly unbearable summer heat, but it also brings along a lot of challenges for handling of waste. Especially in urban areas, where littering and the sheer volume of waste generated is a big challenge for waste warriors. The littered waste, if not picked up, gets carried away by rainwater into drains and low-lying areas causing blockages. Wet waste poses a serious problem as it decomposes faster leading to foul smell and mosquito breeding along with the clogged water. Plastic waste adds to the clogging and stagnation.  Flood water spreading across roads and neighborhoods is now becoming a common sight in urban cities across the world.  What can we do about it? 1.       Segregate Waste - While municipalities have a major role to play in waste handling, it is the individuals who can make a real difference. Waste segregation can solve majority of problems not just in the rainy season but all round t...

It was a insightful and intriguing discussion as students from Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women (BNCA) gave a presentation at the ‘Clean City Talks’. The session was sixth in the series organised by Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI). which aims to explore different aspects of leadership and what we all can learn to make our city better and more liveable. Mr.Krishnan Komandur, CEO APCCI, Mr. Malhar Karwande, COO APCCI, Mr. Aashish Marathe General Manager, APCCI and Mr.Sathya Natarajan, Lead Volunteer APCCI were present on the ocassion. Ms. Trupti Thapa, Ms. Mohini Mandke, and Ms. Radhika Joshi, along with their mentor and Associate Professor Mr. Mahesh Bangad, presented an impressive project: a transit storage unit for dry waste, collaboratively executed by a team of 20 students. The collection unit installed at Sinhagad Road is being used and appreciated by the waste warriors. The unit features multiple compartments, making waste segregation easi...

मॅरेथॉन्स या पुण्याच्या फिटनेस संस्कृतीचा अविभाज्य घटक झाल्या आहेत. काही लोकं स्पर्धात्मक दृष्टीने जिंकण्यासाठी सहभागी होतात,तर काही लोकं तंदुरूस्तीच्या दृष्टीने भाग घेतात.अशा प्रकारच्या उपक्रमांना मोठा प्रतिसाद मिळत असून शेकडो,हजारो लोकं सहभागी होतात. याशिवाय रस्ते,टेकड्या आणि तलाव यांची एक सुंदर भौगोलिक पार्श्वभूमी पुणे व आसपासच्या परिसराला लाभली आहे.रनिंग ग्रुप्स पासून ते कॉर्पोरेट कंपन्या, रूग्णालये व इतर संस्था असे  सगळे मॅरेथॉन्स,सायक्लोथॉन्स आणि वॉकथॉन्ससारख्या उपक्रमांचे आयोजन करून तंदुरूस्तीबरोबरच सामाजिक संदेश देखील देत असतात.ही संस्कृती यापुढेही वाढत जाणार आहे आणि पुण्यातील फिटनेस प्रेमींसाठी अनेक उपक्रम घेऊन येईल.पण अशा उपक्रमांशी निगडीत काही आव्हाने देखील असतात आणि त्यातील एक प्रमुख आव्हान म्हणजे कचरा व्यवस्थापन.जगभरात हवामान बदल हे एक गंभीर वास्तव्य झाले असताना शाश्वततेसाठी कचरा व्यवस्थापन ही एक महत्त्वाची बाब बनली आहे.अशा उपक्रमां मधून  शून्य कचरा (झीरो वेस्ट) हेच  उद्दिष्ट असून  शाश्वततेच्या दृष्टीने निर्णायक आणि महत्त्वाचे पाऊल ठरू शकते....

Marathons are becoming an integral part of Pune's fitness culture. Some participate to clock records while many stand ready at the starting point for fitness. The fact is that these events are getting a huge response with tens of thousands participating in each event. The participation that is being seen is upwards of few hundreds to thousands or more for larger marathons. To add to it Pune and surrounding areas offers a beautiful topography from city roads to hills and lake sides. It is a beautiful mix for events like marathon which traverse long distances.  From running groups to corporates, hospitals and other institutions everyone is promoting some social cause along with fitness through these marathons, cyclothons and walkathons. This is great and must only get better from here !  But with this comes one more challenge and that is of waste management . At a time when the climate crisis is a reality and waste management is becoming an important factor for sustainabilit...

कचऱ्याच्या संदर्भामध्ये आपला एक नेहमी प्रश्न असा असतो की कचऱ्याचे करायचं काय ? ज्या वेळेला एखाद्या वस्तूचा वापर संपतो किंवा ती वस्तू निरुपयोगी होते तेव्हा आपण त्याचा कचरा झाला असे म्हणतो. पण हाच कचरा किंवा अशाच निरुपयोगी वस्तू जर सुस्थितीत सांभाळल्या गेल्या, ठेवल्या,साठवलेल्या गेल्या तर दुसरे कोणते तरी उत्पादन बनवण्यासाठी कच्चा माल म्हणून वापरता येऊ शकतो.उदा.ओला कचरा वेगळा ठेवला गेला आणि तो प्रक्रिया प्रकल्पामध्ये गेल्यावर ओल्या कचऱ्यापासून कंपोस्ट खत किंवा बायोगॅस तयार करता येऊ शकते. ओला कचऱ्यामध्ये प्लास्टिक,धातू,काच असे प्रकारचे न कुजणारे किंवा ज्याच्यापासून पुढचे उपपदार्थ तयार होत नाहीत असा कचरा मिसळला गेला तर प्रकल्पामध्ये कंपोस्ट खत किंवा बायोगॅस तयार होऊ शकत नाही. त्यामुळे प्रकल्प बंद पडतात व अपेक्षित असा परिणाम आपल्याला मिळत नाही आणि अपेक्षित अशा नवीन उत्पादनाची निर्मिती देखील होत नाही.तसेच प्लास्टिकचे सुद्धा आहे.प्लास्टिक कचरा हा एक विशिष्ट समस्या निर्माण करतो. प्लास्टिकचे वर्गीकरण किंवा विलगीकरण योग्य रीतीने केले तर प्लास्टिकचा पुनर्वापर करण्याच्या भरपूर सोयी उप...

The global challenge of waste segregation is one we must confront urgently. Today, whether in households or workplaces, everyone has a critical role in sorting waste at its source. Proper segregation is essential for fostering a sustainable circular economy, where reuse and recycling systems are at the forefront. This blog discusses the significant role individuals play in addressing this pressing issue. What Should We Do with Waste? In waste management, a common question arises: what should we do with our waste? When an item no longer serves a purpose or has reached the end of its life, we classify it as waste. However, much of this waste can be repurposed as raw material for new products. For example, wet waste, when properly sorted, stored, and maintained, can be converted into compost or biogas. This process is achievable when wet waste is separated from other types and directed to appropriate processing facilities. The Importance of Source Segregation If wet waste ...

Often, we observe people grappling with the dilemma of how to dispose of waste generated during household activities or ongoing projects. Similarly, there seems to be a general lack of awareness regarding the appropriate handling of garden waste, such as fallen leaves accumulating in or around garden premises. Consequently, many resort to burning such waste. The act of burning waste has emerged as a significant issue, particularly in urban areas. Faced with the staggering daily influx of waste and a dearth of knowledge regarding proper disposal methods, individuals often opt for the quickest solution: incineration. However, amidst a global climate crisis, one of the simplest yet most impactful steps individuals can take to aid the environment is the proper management of waste. Segregating waste into its various categories—wet, dry, or otherwise—facilitates its processing and recycling, thereby transforming it into reusable materials. However, this necessitates the implem...

Waste Management is a critical aspect of maintaining clean and sustainable cities. One of the key components of an effective waste management system is the presence of strategically placed waste bins throughout urban areas. These waste bins play a crucial role in ensuring that waste is properly disposed of, reducing littering and promoting a cleaner environment. The importance of waste bins in cities cannot be overstated. They serve as convenient and accessible points for residents and visitors to dispose of their trash responsibly. By providing designated spaces for garbage disposal, waste bins help prevent litter from accumulating on streets, sidewalks and public spaces. Furthermore, waste bins contribute to the overall cleanliness and hygiene of cities. They help prevent the spread of diseases by containing potentially hazardous materials and preventing them from contaminating the surrounding environment. Properly placed waste bins also discourage illegal dumping or improper di...

A new year resolution is an effort to bring about a change in individual’s behavior or habits that will have positive effect on self as well as near and dear ones. Most of the resolutions are centered around or focused on health, lifestyle or relations. But is it time to include waste management in our ‘New Year Resolution’? Yes, it is! One because it is more related to our behavioral aspects. Secondly because the effects of climate change are already there, be it extreme weathers, rising temperatures, tsunamis etc. Climate friendly behavior is now becoming an essential part of our daily routine and therefore a positive resolution at the start of the year will give it some momentum. Here are simple three things one can start with as an individual. 1. Segregation of waste – No matter how much awareness has been created, we still have a long way to go. Segregation helps unnecessary things from going to landfills thereby reducing the logistics and fuel. A large part of our was...

As much as we all want our environment to be free of litter, there are still areas prone to chronic waste spots. These areas are often characterized by heaps of trash and debris, and they can diminish the aesthetic value of a place as well as negatively impact public health and safety. But with a little effort, we can all contribute to beautifying these chronic waste spots and make them a pleasant site for everyone.   One of the first things to consider when beautifying a chronic waste spot is to assess the scope of the clean-up. This will help us determine the resources and strategies that we need to employ to tackle the problem effectively. It is essential to coordinate with local authorities, waste collectors and other relevant stakeholders to ensure doorstep waste collection to the nearby citizens, solve the waste collection related issues. Monitor the location for few days so that now garbage is thrown by passerby at the spot. Another crucial consideration is th...