8 March 2005
In our campus, there is
large-scale littering of plastic articles. These include plastic bags,
cups, chocolate wrappers and plastic sheets. Also, there is no proper
waste management system for these kinds of bio-non-degradable material.
In this aspect, the Nature Club is taking the initiative to solve this
problem in a phased manner.
The problem is a complex
one, and it is one that requires cooperation from all the students and
staff of the institute. The usage of plastic articles cannot be stopped
altogether, but there certainly are good ways of managing their disposal.
To tackle this problem,
we have to proceed in several steps. There are steps that can be
implemented immediately, and some that can be done only in the long run.
Provide a large number of dustbins at all major parts of the campus.
There is a major
shortage of dustbins in the campus. People tend to litter the place when
there is no dustbin in immediate vicinity. The littering would reduce if
a dustbin can be reached within a distance of 100 meters from any place
where students gather. Examples of such strategic points include the
library, all exits and entrances to the main building and department
blocks, the rear entrance (near the Dayapuram institute canteen: this
location is full of chocolate wrappers; it is essential that dustbins be
placed here), the workshops etc.
Put up signboards declaring a litter free zone.
Signboards at several
locations in the campus might also motivate the students not to litter.
This will also declare to visitors to the campus that he/she is expected
not to litter. Of course, there must be dustbins nearby to supplement
the signboards.
Bring about awareness to the students by giving talks.
Senior professors and
other faculty members can give a talk regarding the seriousness of the
issue to make the students aware of the plastic menace. The
littering-discipline of the students in the institute is very poor and
we have to bring this to their notice.
Clearing of the dustbins by the cleaning staff.
The dustbins, once
installed, have to be cleared regularly by the cleaning staff. This has
to be instructed to them and a systematic schedule has to be followed.
Avoid burning of plastic waste.
Currently all garbage in
the campus is burnt. This includes all plastic and non-plastic articles,
from the hostels, the main building, faculty apartments etc. There is
no proper waste disposal system. The fumes from the burning plastic are
sometimes very hard to bear, near the hostels. We need to have a
systematic procedure to collect all plastic waste and dump them in a
place away from the main college and hostel buildings and apartments.
Again, this can be done by the cleaning staff.
The plastic waste so
collected must be disposed off properly. Since we are not within Calicut
city corporation premises, can we arrange a weekly (or fortnightly)
garbage pickup by the corporation? A request directly from the institute
might be considered favorably. Otherwise we have to think of other
approaches.
Avoid plastic cups in
the canteen.
Whenever there is any
function being organized within the institute, refreshments are usually
provided from the canteen. The drinks and snacks are always provided in
plastic cups. And due to the dustbin shortage, they are littered outside
the classrooms or seminar halls, or sometimes even collected and dumped
outside. The canteen staff can be instructed to use paper cups and
plates, and not to litter the campus.
If we can get a regular
supply of paper bags, the cooperative store can also be made to use
them, instead of plastic ones.
These are some of the
initial steps we propose to bring this idea into fruition. Other
suggestions, ideas and comments are welcome.
The Nature Club is
trying in earnest to develop a plastic-free, litter-free campus. There
has to be right motivation and support from all members of the institute
to bring this idea into operation. It is hoped that there will be
administrative and financial support from the institute. This is an
issue that is serious and greatly harmful to the environment if it is
not checked. Also, the campus will indeed look more beautiful and green
if this is done.
We hope that there will be good encouragement from all people in the institute to bring in a plastic-free campus.