Solid Waste Outreach Efforts of the Past

The history of solid waste outreach efforts parallels the development of solid waste management within Auroville. In the late 1980’s, the late Stefano (Aurodam) began a waste collection service that was taken over by Gillian and others and supervised by Amrit (Verite) for several years. The Auroville Health Centre launched a few programmes in the nineties and the Solid Waste Management Task Force came into existence in 2000, with Gillian, Amrit, Lucas and several others involved. Further, attention was given to waste issues as a result of the burning of waste at the Pondy dump and subsequent clouds of toxic smoke that would hang over Auroville communities. The Litter Free Auroville campaign in 2010 had a significant impact as it put solid waste management on another level in the public’s awareness.

In terms of outreach, some years ago Auroville Water Harvest instigated a system of waste segregation in Edayanachavady, and there have been the spontaneously organized litter pick ups. One of the more extensive projects was undertaken in Kuilapalayam village by Gillian. She undertook the project at a time when waste began to change from mainly organic waste to more packaging waste. Inspired by Exnora, a citizen-based movement that began in Chennai, she began a project in1994 to tackle the mounds of waste in the village. She raised funds through donations from the State Bank of India and local Auroville businesses and, with the support of the Panchayat, launched a door-to-door waste collection service that collected waste twice a week from every household. The householders were expected to pay Rs 10/a month to fund the workers who did the collection and recycled, composted and finally landfilled the leftover waste. This went on for two years until it finally closed due to lack of financial support. Since then, roadside waste collection has been operating instead.