‘Segregate Waste for Better Environment’- MLA Kamath at APD Website launch
‘Segregate Waste for Better Environment’-MLA Vedavyas Kamath at APD Foundation Website ‘RECYCLEINDIA.ORG’ launch- an Initiative by Anti Pollution Drive {APD} Foundation -Mangaluru; UN Habitat & Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation, Mumbai
Mangaluru: The Anti Pollution Drive {APD} Foundation was set up in view of the fact that there is an apparent information and data deficit amongst the citizens of our country regarding environmental concerns. The Mission of APD Foundation is: To work towards mitigating air pollution, facilitate sanitation of environment and thereby help improve public health and economic profile of Indian cities; and Vision is to work towards a clean and healthy environment. Key activities of APD includes various awareness programmes, Outreach and training programmes, public events, road shows, interactive sessions, announcement vehicles, movie screening, clean-up drives, educating and sensitizing the public on the importance of sustainable living. The objective being, to inform and inculcate behavioural change in our youth so that they stead the message.
And in order to bring awareness on pollution APD decided to launch a website named “Recycleindia.org” which was released on 14 June 2018, at a programme held at Padua School Auditorium-Mangaluru. Briefing about the new website, the founder of APD Foundation Abdullah A Rehman said, ” Mangaluru produces 300 tonnes of unsegregated waste, out of which nearly 30% goes to the landfill, from which 60% can be recycled. In the light of Mangaluru being recognized as the ‘Best City on Solid Waste Management’ in the country, Anti-Pollution Drive (APD) Foundation is launching a website named RECYCLEINDIA.ORG that can enable anyone who wants to put the trash at their home, office or school to a better use. Most citizens want to recycle waste and cooperate with such efforts, yet they are unable to do so because they lack the right guidance. This website will help people recycle more things, more often and achieve a zero waste lifestyle. This website will educate people and give a roadmap for waste generators about what to do with each of the 200+ waste materials that are listed in the website”
He further said, “The website will connect the people to the local recycling centres in the city and help them to dispose any kind of waste through proper and sustainable channel. Using the website effectively will help protect the environment from pollution and preserve natural resources as well as help in reducing the landfill space that is growing exponentially. The project will help create better economy and job opportunities through processing and management of the waste. The website initiative comes as part of APD Foundation’s Smart Swacch Mangaluru (SSM) project that aims to achieve segregation at source, a key step towards success of Mangaluru’s SWM system. The SSM project has won an award from UN-Habitat and Narotam Sekharia Foundation, Mumbai.”
So Mangalorean.com readers may ask, Why this Website Matters? ‘RECYCLEINDIA.ORG’ website and the other initiative by APD Foundation will not only focus on public education and broadcasting but take an integrated approach to ensure sustained conversion, with ULB (MCC), the Waste Contractor of MCC-Antony Waste Handling Cell Pvt Ltd (AWHCPL) and a city NGO (APD) working in close partnership with waste generators. In order to achieve this, SSM will ensure multiple exposures that embed the concept of segregation and help gain public support for the initiatives by authorities.
The ‘Recycleindia.org’ website and ‘APD Profile brochure was launched by MLA Mangaluru South Constituency Vedavyas Kamath, Mangaluru North Constituency MLA Dr Bharath Shetty, and Ms Roopa D Bangera – MCC Corporator, Kader Shah-District Information Officer, and Ronald Fernandes- President, Mangalore Press Club, in the presence of APD Founder Abdullah Rehman. Speaking on the occasion, MLA Vedavyas Kamath said, ” I compliment APD Foundation for their unique website which will bring knowledge about waste segregation and keeping environment clean. Growing city of Mangaluru is generating huge quantity of solid wastes and the need for effective waste management is more important. I will do my best to work with MCC and APD Foundation to bring awareness among citizens of Mangaluru on waste segregation, which would benefit a lot while dumping the waste at the dump yard. Let us all join together to keep our City clean and the safety of the environment”.
MLA Dr Bharath Shetty and Corporator Ms Roopa Bangera lauding the efforts put in by APD Foundation, urged the citizens to segregate waste {separate wet from dry waste} and also not to throw garbage in the drains, which will block the drains, resulting in overflow of water onto to the streets, creating floods. Following the formal function as part of Iftar – Inter-Religious Harmony get-together, Abdullah and his Team volunteers handed over snacks to every member in the audience.
For more details on how you can join in APD projects, Contact: 0824 4270008; 0824 4267008; 9740000008 Email: office@antipollution.org
