In India, tons of trash are left uncollected each year and end up in dumps that pollute the environment around the villages. The accumulation of this trash means production of lots of methane gas, which causes a greenhouse effect 21 times stronger than ‘CO2’.
However, the trash represents a source of revenue for many Indians, who collect it for resale at $1.50 per day. They recover recyclable materials such as plastic, paper, and glass, but the working conditions are horrifying and unsanitary. The health consequences for trash collectors are catastrophic, often cutting their life expectancy in half.
A solution to this environmental pollution does exist, allowing for cleaner and safer working conditions. This solution has already been tried and is being implemented in the south-east of India, in villages that are supported by Humanium. Each month, the villages are cleaned and the trash gathered, sorted and recycled. The trash is then separated into ‘Organic’ trash, which is composted and then used as natural fertilizer, and the ‘Reusable’ waste which is recycled.
Working conditions are much better and have decidedly improved the life expectancy of the villagers. Finally, environmentally speaking, the villages now enjoy a much cleaner space and, greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced.
