Waste management in Sankarapuram, India: sorting, collection and recycling

Posted on Posted in Environment

Humanium is taking a global approach to promote sustainable development in Sankarapuram, a village in southeastern India.

Humanium’s environmental program is about educating the community about nature preservation and making the inhabitants active participants in sustainable resource management.

Up to the present, Sankapuram did not have an adequate waste management system in place and the inhabitants were confronted with a significant increase in plastic waste. The rise in pollution is seriously affecting the environment as well as the health of Sankapuram’s poorest people.

Humanium’s educational campaigns are making the public more aware of the importance of keeping the village clean.

Real concrete action has been taken in Sankapuram since 2009. 10 waste containers have been installed. The public has been informed about recycling and waste collection. Every month, the inhabitants organise a collective cleaning of the village and they separate biodegradable from non-biodegradable waste. Organic waste is put into a large compost area and this compost is run by a micro-entreprise which earns enough revenue to support one family.