Waste segregationby The Art of Living
Challenge
India generates a huge amount of wet waste
Strategy
Installing composting machines
Impact
waste management projects
Overview
50% of waste generated by Indian households is wet waste which makes its way to landfills. Likewise, the huge amount of floral offerings made in places of worship in India is dumped and generally makes its way to water bodies, polluting the environment and posing health risks.
However, wet waste and waste flowers have enormous and largely unexploited potential of being turned into organic compost. Sri Sri Rural Development Program under the aegis of The Art of Living is tapping this potential for a cleaner and more hygienic environment. The program is installing waste segregation facilities and waste management plants for major places of worship and cities in India. The project is also training unemployed youth in maintaining and operating solid waste management machines and helping them to become entrepreneurs.
ENVIRONMENT CARE
Save nature
You can help us save rivers, plant more trees and promote environment-friendly practices.
Temple Flowers, too good to waste
Strategy
First the nature of facilities needed is gauged by considering the nature and quantum of solid waste generated, including peak loads. With the worship place authorities or the municipal corporation of the city’s agreement, we decide on the project’s capital funding. We put waste collection and segregating facilities in place, freeze the space and civil infrastructure for the composting unit. After its installation, we train employees in operations and maintenance of the machinery.
- Collected waste is brought at site and segregated
- Floral/wet waste is treated in the composting unit
- Organic compost sold
- Sales of compost used to make the project sustainable
Cycle of waste operation
Segregation
Segregation
of collected waste
Waste treatment
Selling
Selling
the organic compost
Sustainability
The Art of Living has helped build 18 waste management plants across temples, dargahs, vegetable markets and municipal corporations that collectively processes 11.5 lakh kg of waste every year.
Impact
18 waste management plants
Installed at various places of worship
42.34 lakh kg waste/year
Total capacity to process waste through waste management plants
1000 waste pickers
Trained in waste segregation in 15 states
5 municipal waste
management projects
In Chennai and Delhi
1000 kg/day
Capacity of composting machine in Delhi
500 kg/day
Capacity of composting machine in Chennai
Inspiration from the community
STORIES
Compost from floral waste used to grow plants
“It’s a nice project done by The Art of Living and the fertilizers
which will be prepared out of the waste material will be used to
grow plants. We have also invited other temples to provide their
waste flowers and materials."
Waste management plants process waste quickly
“These plants developed by The Art of Living process the waste in
no time and are easy to use. These type of plants are very useful for
all the major temples where tonnes of waste is generated.”
Contact Us
info@projects.artofliving.org+91 80 67433684
