A resident of HSR layout in Bengaluru, Padmashree calls herself an environmentalist and is an active volunteer with the HSR citizen forum. This year, she and her team played a key role in ensuring that the annual Ganesha festival held in Hogasandra had minimal generation of waste.
Each year, almost 10,000 people are fed as part of the annadan during the Ganesha festivities. Typically, the waste generated during the fest was enormous. This year, the HSR citizen forum decided to explore ways to reduce wastage, and employ environmentally-friendly means to celebrate the festival.
Their goal was to demonstrate that despite large numbers of revellers, the event can be zero-waste and eco-friendly. An ideal zero-waste event sends nothing to landfills and incinerators.
Padmashree approached Adamya Chetana, a plate bank in Bengaluru.
'We deliberated a lot and after a site visit, we decided to use steel plates and also look into the water consumption. We managed to get about 2,000 plates from them and we started the food distribution at 10AM which went on till 4 PM. We had people coming and eating continuously."
As for washing the plates, while the initial plan was to use bio enzymes, Padmashree mentions that using bio enzymes consumes a little more time than using other conventional washing products and since the quantity and turn around time was quick, they were unable to use it effectively.
Their goal was to demonstrate that despite large numbers of revellers, the event can be zero-waste and eco-friendly. An ideal zero-waste event sends nothing to landfills and incinerators.
Padmashree approached Adamya Chetana, a plate bank in Bengaluru.
'We deliberated a lot and after a site visit, we decided to use steel plates and also look into the water consumption. We managed to get about 2,000 plates from them and we started the food distribution at 10AM which went on till 4 PM. We had people coming and eating continuously."
As for washing the plates, while the initial plan was to use bio enzymes, Padmashree mentions that using bio enzymes consumes a little more time than using other conventional washing products and since the quantity and turn around time was quick, they were unable to use it effectively.
If this article has inspired you even a little bit to try and be environmentally-conscious, then here are a few ways in which you can also conduct zero-waste events:
ii) Urge people to not get gifts and if they absolutely must then perhaps a plant would be a great option.
iii) Find disposable or even better, reusable cutlery to serve food at the event.
iv) Say no to plastic water bottles, instead set up water booths and urge people to use that.
v) Use effective waste management technique at the venue itself to segregate the waste at source.
Source & Credit:The Better India