While Bangalore has experienced an explosion of growth recently, the problem of waste has grown with it. Garbage is an all too common sight in India, and Bangalore alone produces 5,000 tons of solid waste in a single day.
This was the theme of our second full day in Bangalore: the problem of waste, its many effects on the environment and people, and what can be done about it.
The morning began as usual with a delicious breakfast, although the appetizing smells would seem long ago and far away by the end of the day's activities.
We started with a visit to the Kasa Rasa Centre in Kormangala, an initiative of Saahas. Saahas is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on the reduction of waste whenever possible, as well as accounting for organic waste and recyclables in the waste stream to ensure their proper disposal.
Kasa Rasa is currently responsible for waste pickup from 10 local apartment buildings. Tenants are asked to sort their wet and dry waste prior to pickup, which is done to help facilitate community understanding and responsibility of the amount of waste produced as a result of consumption.
Back at the centre, the waste is further separated into recyclables and organics. Kasa Rasa and the Sahaas organization are great examples of what can be accomplished with a well-planned model and dedicated stakeholders, but it is ultimately only a step in the long road toward a cleaner India.
Kasa Rasa has also recently become a site for the recycling of electronic waste (or "e-waste"), which can have long-lasting, detrimental environmental effects if disposed of improperly.
Watch "Mental vs. Environmental: Responsible Recycling of E-waste," a video produced by Sahaas that promotes responsible recycling of e-waste and its importance.
