Training on Integrated Waste Management, AAETI

February 18 – 23, 2019 

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) organized a five-day training program on “Integrated Waste Management” at Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute (AAETI), Nimli, Rajasthan from 19 - 23 February 2019. During the programme, numerous issues and experiences of recent waste management concerns and planning initiatives were discussed by subject experts. The event witnessed participants from 12 diversified fields namely, Consultancy, State Government and Private Companies. The event discussed in detail the regulations, technical processing options and case studies in Solid, Plastic, E-waste, Biomedical and C&D waste. The training supported and maintained a balance of theory and practical sessions along with signature sessions, group discussions, class exercises and site visit.

The objective of the programme is to enable participants understand the essential legislation and compliance in implementation of Solid Waste Management (SWM) at the local bodies, and allied waste management issues prevailing in different contours of the country. It incorporated one site visit and practical hands-on exercises in order to enable participants ascertain and formulate an Integrated Waste Management (IWM) model for sustainable responsive growth.

The programme basically encompassed lectures, case studies, dialogues, assignments and group activities viz., know your plastics, development of a waste segregation plan, exercises on e-waste management, Do It Yourself (DIY) of upcycling of waste etc. Famed as trash art - the participants learned to make dream catcher out of trash- and were also taught to identify different versions of plastics based on their origin, usage and recyclability.

The training also deliberated upon different themes related to integrated waste management techniques such as, technologies available in market for decentralized composting and centralized waste management options like, Waste To Energy (WTE); sanitary landfill and reclaiming landfill. In order to leverage the learning and experience, the programme also outlined a field visit to the Common Biomedical Treatment Facility (CBMWTF) – Hoswin Incinerator - in Alwar, Rajasthan. It helped the participants to get aquatinted with the pragmatic challenges experienced during execution of Biomedical Waste Management (BMWM) Rules in tier 2, 3 cities, and villages. On the concluding day of the training course, participants presented their ideal plan of IWM at city level based on the class learnings and observations on fields.

The training augmented the awareness level and importance of source segregation among participants, and motivated them to reduce wastes at individual level. It further, propelled them to think and consume resources sustainably. Some key take away for participants from this training were: existing status of waste management in India; major provisions of the new waste management Rules 2016 and their status of implementation, roles and responsibilities among different stakeholders; inventorisation and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR); decentralised waste management; use of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for behavioural changes and site visit to comprehend and learn about prevailing best waste management practices in the country. Furthermore, the participants mentioned that such platforms not only provide them an opportunity to meet, engage, gain and share knowledge from diverse fields, but also facilitate them in ideating probable solutions for our shared common world.