When C. Prashanth and D. Saranraj took part in an organic farming workshop in Class 11, the duo decided that they would make a career of it. Though they were forced to pursue engineering by their families, after completing their studies, the duo set up an NGO, Meiporul, to focus on solid waste management. Currently, they have tied up with more than 12 apartments and the city airport, processing close to two tonnes of waste daily. This project has allowed them to provide jobs for economically weaker sections of society. With 'No Dumping' as their motto, the youths have initiated 'My waste my responsibility' project.
Several city engineering students have pitched in to help the duo over the last few months. "I completed my engineering from Kumaraguru College of Technology and am currently doing a diploma in health and environmental safety. I am volunteering with Meiporul. I want to make a career in this field," says Prathap Ganesan. The students work part time from 3pm to 8pm daily. Once they complete their education, many join work full time.
The youngsters have set up kiosks in 12 apartments where each household has been given two bins and a bag. The house owners segregate waste into organic, inorganic and hazardous and deposit them at the kiosks. The waste is collected and transported to the segregation centres where secondary segregation takes place. The hazardous waste is incinerated. The organic waste is processed in vermin-compost plant and the plastic waste is sent to companies such as ACC Cement that use it as fuel.
"Our main aim to educate people and ensure that there is zero dumping. When we were in college, we took part in several cleaning programmes. But we soon realized that the waste collected by us was dumped in dust bins and then dumped at the Vellalore dump yard. We wanted to come up with a better system to manage waste," said Prashanth.
Currently, Saranraj has collected more than 45 tonnes of dry waste such as plastic from the Velalore dump yard. "We want more youngsters to be involved in the process," he said.
They aim to reach out to 15,000 households and set up over 20 additional kiosks in the city by the end of April. Their only condition is that the waste handed over to them is segregated. They have joined hands with the city corporation and private firms in this effort. ACC Cements and Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore have sponsored two e-carts that they use for transporting the waste.
"We also have a mobile application in which every employee and volunteer makes entries. The entire system is transparent," said Prashanth. Currently they collect nearly 2 tonnes of waste from households and four tonnes of waste from Vellalore dump yard.
Several city engineering students have pitched in to help the duo over the last few months. "I completed my engineering from Kumaraguru College of Technology and am currently doing a diploma in health and environmental safety. I am volunteering with Meiporul. I want to make a career in this field," says Prathap Ganesan. The students work part time from 3pm to 8pm daily. Once they complete their education, many join work full time.
The youngsters have set up kiosks in 12 apartments where each household has been given two bins and a bag. The house owners segregate waste into organic, inorganic and hazardous and deposit them at the kiosks. The waste is collected and transported to the segregation centres where secondary segregation takes place. The hazardous waste is incinerated. The organic waste is processed in vermin-compost plant and the plastic waste is sent to companies such as ACC Cement that use it as fuel.
"Our main aim to educate people and ensure that there is zero dumping. When we were in college, we took part in several cleaning programmes. But we soon realized that the waste collected by us was dumped in dust bins and then dumped at the Vellalore dump yard. We wanted to come up with a better system to manage waste," said Prashanth.
Currently, Saranraj has collected more than 45 tonnes of dry waste such as plastic from the Velalore dump yard. "We want more youngsters to be involved in the process," he said.
They aim to reach out to 15,000 households and set up over 20 additional kiosks in the city by the end of April. Their only condition is that the waste handed over to them is segregated. They have joined hands with the city corporation and private firms in this effort. ACC Cements and Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore have sponsored two e-carts that they use for transporting the waste.
"We also have a mobile application in which every employee and volunteer makes entries. The entire system is transparent," said Prashanth. Currently they collect nearly 2 tonnes of waste from households and four tonnes of waste from Vellalore dump yard.