Alappuzha: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has recognised Alappuzha as a model in solid waste management. Alappuzha is the second in its report ‘Solid approach to waste: how 5 cities are beating pollution’.
Other cities on the list are Osaka (Japan), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Penang (Malaysia) and Cajicá (Colombia).
It says while many have yet to rise to the challenge, these five have successfully created ‘a solid approach to waste.’
It notes Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose World Environment Day 2017 to launch a drive to address the mountains of trash piling up in streets and landfills across India. “To implement it, cities across the world’s second-most-populous nation could do worse than follow the example of progressive municipalities like Alappuzha,” report said.
Alappuzha addressed, it says, the problem by introducing decentralised waste management system.
“A few years ago, roadsides and canals filled with stinking garbage were threatening coastal Alappuzha’s status as a tourist destination as well as exposing residents and visitors alike to clouds of flies and disease-spreading mosquitoes. Protests by residents had led to the closure of the city’s main landfill site in 2014," it reads.
“Since then, the city - dubbed “the Venice of the East” for its network of backwaters and coastal lagoons where tourists can rent houseboats – has addressed the problem by introducing a decentralised waste management system. This separates out biodegradable waste at ward level, treats it in small composting plants, and provides many of its 174,000 residents with biogas for cooking.”
Pollution is the theme of the 2017 UN Environment Assembly, which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya from December 4-6.
“Five of the 50 anti-pollution actions listed in a new UN Environment report relate directly to solid waste. One emphasises that carefully crafted policies and regulation at the national level are vital to moving our economies onto a more sustainable track. But it is usually up to cities and towns to implement them on the ground,” the report adds.
