Planning education to care for the earth - IUCN Knowledge Network

Planning education to care for the earthcity neighbourhoods, the area of operation (BCC and the BangaloreDevelopment Authority (BDA)), the number and location of dumpsites, roadoutlets, the amounts of garbage generated and collected, and its transportation.Information was also collected on the amount of garbage generated byindividual households, the types of waste from homes, shops, offices,schools etc., and by segregating and separating waste matter to estimatepercentages (between 75 and 80 percent of domestic garbage in Indiaconsists of organic matter). The possible effects on human health and theenvironment of waste matter if disposed directly were examined.The existing system of disposal, recycling and reprocessing and the roles ofrag pickers and waste retrievers were studied. One hundred tons ofunsegregated garbage a day are composted aerobically by Bangalore, andthere are industries which process rags into paper, and recycle paper,plastics, glass, metal, rubber etc.Integrated management: a communication strategyA communication strategy was then worked out for an integratedmanagement plan for waste utilization and disposal. This is summarised infigure 3. The strategy was directed both at officialdom, since they were keyto support and setting up infrastructures for the project to work and at thepublic, through family and school contacts.An awareness programme directed at the Mayor and members of theCorporation and its officials aimed to obtain the agreement of the authoritiesto use small parks or other open spaces to develop neighborhood compostingsites using the aerobic and vermicomposting techniques.In parallel, the strategy was directed to orienting interested citizens incomposting so that they could oversee neighbourhood operations. An ecoawarenessprogramme was organized for the youth club of a pilot area tomobilize volunteers for the collection of data and for campaigning.An interview schedule was drawn up to enable volunteers to collectinformation on the generation of garbage. This information was needed todetermine the positioning of different types of garbage bin in variouslocations and to devise methods of collection, transport and disposal,including the utilization of incinerators and composting plants.Prototype educational materials (based on the information collected) wereprepared, and objectives outlined. Plant nursery techniques, composting andtree planting were included in the subjects covered. Educational moduleswere prepared for schools and teachers trained in using them. Badges andtree ID cards for tree growing clubs were prepared.Next came the identification of volunteer communicators for a house-tohousecampaign using films, slide shows, posters, pamphlets, activitybooklets, stickers and panels bearing good waste habit messages.60