KOZHIKODE: With Kozhikode district scheduled to start its 'Zero waste management project' from January 1, 2018, a Panchayat here will be celebrating its first year of 'managing own waste', after successfully implementing the 'My Waste, My Responsibility' project. The project, initiated by four youngsters in the region, was supported by the panchayat and spread to nearly 10,000 houses and 3,000 shops. Shahid Kuttambur, Wahid Pilassery, Sunil Vasudev and Naseerudheen P.M. started their company - 'My Nature Resource Management' to clean the Thamarassery churam (ghat). "Most of the people in the panchayat, along with the tourists, have been dumping waste in the Churam. Our company's first move was to stop dumping at the Churam," said Mr Shahid.
The campaign was slowly taken up by the panchayat, and they were given a licence to collect waste from houses and shops. "Suchitwa Mission permits us to collect upto Rs 40 per month from houses and Rs 200 from shops. We are collecting Rs 30 and Rs 160 respectively. What is more important is to manage waste from the source itself. We also provide them organic solutions that can convert the waste into manure," added Mr Shahid. Nearly one year into the successful campaign, the team has also added 'Green Campus, 'Green City' and 'My Nature My Life' campaigns to its credit.
