Shillong: A one-day advocacy workshop on Zero Waste was organized by Bethany Society in collaboration with Public Health Engineering Dept (PHED) in the city on Friday. The workshop brought together NGOs and national and international experts who see waste as a looming crisis and a malaise that has gripped a consumptive, selfish society.
Addressing the audience, Shibu Nair, Programme Director, Thanal, who has vast experiences of tackling the issue of waste in the country, said Zero Waste is an international movement and discounted the word ‘sustainable waste management’ which he said is a contradiction in terms since the earth cannot sustain the amount of waste generated by human beings every day.
Nair pointed out that waste is indicative of societal arrogance and excess and said, “We cannot run a wasteful society on a finite planet.”
The concept of Zero Waste requires a mental revolution to change behavioural aspect in India, Nair said adding that in India it started with the liberalization period which introduced a culture of buy and waste and does not care about others. He said it is always the affluent that unthinkingly generate waste while all the land-fills and incinerators are located in areas inhabited by poor, lower caste and voiceless people.
Nair cautioned against burning of waste especially plastics which he says turns waste (some of which could be resources that could be recovered) into complicated toxins which affects the air we breathe. Speaking about land-fills Nair said these are the time bombs for the future generation.
Analysing the world “Throw Away,” Nair asked where is that “Away” we are talking of. There is no ‘Away’ because what is ‘Away’ from one’s sight is dumped somewhere in the earth. Referring to the politics of waste management Nair said, “The rich waste; the poor suffer.”
Zero Waste is built on the ethical principle of resource conservation and social justice. ‘Zero Waste for Zero Warming’ is what works, Nair said adding that landfills are an example of environmental racism.
Ananda from the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) said Climate Change is an economic problem and the result of an extractive economy. “The extraction of resources without thoughts about constraints and only aimed at unfettered growth – an energy intensive economy is what nduces Climate Change.
Warning that waste to energy is the most expensive proposition – 60 times more expensive than producing nuclear energy, Ananda said that burning waste is 2.5 times worse than burning coal.
“We are now looking at a survival plan because many are displaced and dying on account of Climate Change. Those on the frontline of the crises should be in the forefront of change. We cannot wait for Governments or scientists to bring change. It has to be the farmers, the poor, the rag pickers who have to lead the change,” Ananda stated.
Earlier, Carmo Noronha, Director Bethany Society, gave the welcome address and I. Huroo of PHED explained the purpose of the National Water Supply Mission of the Government of India. Toki Blah, President ICARE, also spoke on the occasion.
