SWaCH collects 107 tons of Nirmalya during Ganeshotsav
Nirmalya to Nisarga, a collaborative initiative of Pune Municipal Corporation, SWaCH Pune and Cummins India collected 107 tons of votive offerings during Ganpati Festival 2021. Punekars participated with great enthusiasm to mark yet another successful year for the initiative that aims to preserve culture and nature of the city. Collected Nirmalya will be composted and given to farmers for free. From the last 11 years, SWaCH waste pickers, with the help of PMC, have established the system of segregated collection of Nirmalya.
The system has reduced the quantum of votive offerings thrown at the riverside significantly. Waste pickers once again achieved resounding success in preserving environment of the city while respecting religious sentiments of citizens.
“It is essential to segregate compostable Nirmalya at source as it is highly compostable. Like every year, citizens kept it separate and also handed over separately to SWaCH waste pickers during the special collection drives of Nirmalya to Nisarga organized on 12, 15 and 20 September. This small yet important habit has enabled composting of Nirmalya at a city scale. The collaboration between PMC and SWaCH has gained Pune an identity of a city that blends festival and environment together”, said Alok Gogate, Operations Head, SWaCH Pune.
Vidya Naiknawre, SWaCH waste picker from Dhankawadi said, “We have been collecting Nirmlya from door to door since last year. Citizens respond to this initiative enthusiastically every year. We request citizens not to dispose Nirmalya at riverside and encourage them to give it to us instead. Through every initiative we aim to foster our commitment to citizens and strengthen Pune’s waste management”.
SWaCH waste pickers used to collect Nirmalya at river front for the last 11 years. But since last year, due to the pandemic they collected Nirmalya from door to door across the city. Collected Nirmalya was transferred to PMC vehicles for further processing. Cummins India facilitated waste pickers with bags for collection.
