What’s in your trash?

T he State’s upgraded solid waste management policy is finally out. Started by P. Natarajan, an IT professional turned social entrepreneur, in 2015, the citizen-led NGO is actively involved in waste management, lake conservation, and a series of green initiatives such as their most recent venture of turning the city’s schools into zero-waste establishments. Another interesting project is Namma Koil – wherein city temples have been adopted by the group and taught waste management principles. How to manage waste at home: - Segregate waste at source - Get two bins – for dry and wet waste respectively - Set up a compost pit for kitchen and garden waste. If you live in an apartment, encourage the Association to create a community pit - Cut down on single-use plastics and start carrying your own shopping bag - Opt for traditional metal utensils rather than plastic/synthetic ones - Take your own containers to take-away restaurants - Identify local waste pickers to pass on recyclable materials such as newspapers, cardboard boxes, etc.