Students of 400-schools are cleaning Goa, one-step at a time
What's the story
Students from 403 schools across Goa have become 'foot soldiers' for the government's drive for proper segregation and collection of waste, taken up by the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC), an official said.
With the help of students, the state-run body has been collecting a total of about 17 tonnes of segregated waste from the schools every month, he said.
High school spirit
High school students playing pivotal role: GWMC MD
GWMC Managing Director Sanjith Rodrigues said the high school students are playing a pivotal role in the initiative by properly segregating the garbage and disposing it in bins. The waste is then shifted to the treatment plant at Saligao near Panaji.
In each school, the drive is led by a nodal officer, who is a teacher from the same institution, he said.
Segregation process
GWMC introduces 'four bins' concept in schools for waste segregation
GWMC, which was set up a few years back to tackle the garbage issue, has introduced the concept of 'four bins' in schools.
"Separate bins are kept in schools for wastes like glass and metal, paper and card board, non-recyclable waste, and plastic," Rodrigues said.
Students make sure that the garbage goes in the right bin, which is then collected by GWMC, he said.
Awareness
Plans to include waste management topics in school syllabus
Rodrigues said that when the initiative was started with a few schools in July last year, the corporation could collect only 0.5 tonnes of waste per month.
But as the awareness about proper waste disposal grew among students, more schools came up.
He said efforts were being made to include topics related to garbage management, including 'zero waste', in Environment Science for students.