Solid Waste Management -Impact of 2019 Sensitising Workshops for Segregation of Wastes on Students in Ullal CMC

Solid Waste Management -Impact of 2019 sensitising workshops for segregation of wastes on students in Ullal CMC

A draft Study design

The context;

Segregation of waste at source is the basis for ‘zero waste management’. Ullal city municipal council (CMC) since 2016 has been making a humble effort in this direction and School of Social work, Roshni Nilaya, Mangalore (SSWRN) joining hands for making it a sustainable model. Ranking of Ullal CMC in the of ‘Swatch survekshan’ successively in 2017-18 and 2018-19 in first place among the CMC’s in DK district and 4th and 11th position in Karnataka state is an clear indicator for its effort to Ullal CMC model with owned by its citizens.

However, the base line study1 by the SSWRN on the ‘quantity’ and ‘quality’ of waste disposed in Ullal CMC is estimated at 17TPD of which, the wet waste is 10/12 TPD and dry waste is 5/6 TPD. The total per head waste disposed by HH and Commercial shops is estimated at 570grams of which 450 is wet waste (bio-degradable) and 121 grams is the dry waste (Non- bio degradable). The 2/3 quantity of bio degradable wet wastes which should have been converted in to bio manure or bio gas are collected2 in a mixed form (non segregated) and transported and dumped to the waste processing unit of MCC3 at Vamanjoor. The data on waste processing at Vamanjoor4 clearly indicates of a bleak future and a potential environment hazard. 90% of the mixed wastes are sent to the landfill site at ‘Pachchanadi village in Vamanjoor and 10% is converted in to bio manure. This practice has a potential danger5 of contaminating ground water sources and life of flora and fauna of Pachanadi and nearby villages. So, unless the citizens of these urban local bodies do not change their current waste disposal practices and adapt to a sustainable waste management method the future looks very bleak. Hence,

1 The base line study report by field work students and faculty of SSWRN in 2017-18 2 17 TPD of mixed waste from Ullal CMC collected from approximately 10,500 HH (53,600 pop as per 2011 census) and 1500 Commercial shops. 3 The waste processing unit called IL&FS, a multinational company with expertise in waste processing 4 Out of the total 350 TPD dumped by various urban local bodies (Mangalore, Ullal and Bantwal)only 10% is converted in to Bio manure. 5 As expected, the worst fears have come true; the recent monsoon rains resulted in overflowing of mixed wastes from the landfill site and submerged 25 houses, coconut and areca plantations causing large scale loss to flora and fauna in the region.

Solid Waste Management -Impact of 2019 sensitising workshops for segregation of wastes on students in Ullal CMC

Research Problem; Ullal CMC in partnership with SSWRN Mangalore planned and carried out a campaign to sensitise 10k students on the need for segregating waste at HH level and schools with view to influence the behavioural change among the 10k families in Ullal CMC area. The sensitising workshops were carried out in 42 educational institutions6 operating in Ullal CMC area by the MSW field work students during Jan-April 2019. CMC felicitated MSW students and CRP’s on 8th of May 2019. The basic philosophy behind the sensitisation campaign for segregation of waste through students is that ‘children are able to positively able to influence behavioural change in their parents. The study wanted to explore the impact of sensitising workshops in re-in forcing the value of sustainable waste management practice in the student and the family.

Consequent to the sensitising workshops covering 10k students in Ullal, Ullal CMC implemented collected segregated wastes on all week days except on Friday from April 1st 2019 and refused to take mixed wastes from the HH. Interestingly, 70% of the citizens in the 31 wards started giving segregated waste from their HH. Hence, it is very pertinent to see the co-relation between training and the segregation of Citizens at HH level.

But when the campaign was beginning to yield results in the month of April-May 2019, its momentum was disturbed by series of events such as; declaration of parliamentary elections and enforcement of code of conduct, consequently, transfer of Ullal CMC Commissioner who was leading the campaign7. Meanwhile, some elected members raised objection to the introduction of segregation at source and there was an incident of man handling of the CMC waste collection vehicle driver for the same reason in a ward. PK’s protested and sat on a ‘Dharana’ demanding to file FIR on the culprits. However, the incumbent commissioner mediated and arrived at a compromise and resolved the issue. The study wanted to explore the relationship between the changes of leadership and the segregation of waste campaign?

Moreover, even though members were elected in 31 wards in Aug 2018 but could not form a ‘Council’ due to lack of majority and the oath of office was not given to the elected members as ‘Councillors’. This has left them with lot of resentment. This could be one of the main reasons for their non-co-operation for the initiatives of zero waste management by the CMC functionaries in the absence of a duly elected Council. These sequences of events mentioned above lead

6 List of schools and number of students sensitised is given in the annexure 7 Ullal CMC commissioner(Ms. Vani Alva) spearheading the ZWM campaign was transferred to Hunsur CMC and commissioner of CMC Kolar (Mr. Lakshminarayana) was posted in her place to Ullal.

Solid Waste Management -Impact of 2019 sensitising workshops for segregation of wastes on students in Ullal CMC to demoralisation of CMC functionaries and resulted in slackness in the segregation of waste by the citizens and collection from the CMC. So, study wants to explore the reasons for non- co-operation by the elected reps for ZWM plans of CMC. Lastly, In spite of the issues referred above, there were few hard spots in Ullal CMC wards such as; in Olapete, Alekala, Durga Road, Millath Nagar, opp. Sharadha Nikethan, Obathukere and in the corner of CPCRI (Cashew research station) etc. Citizens continue to dump wastes. So, the study wants to explore the impact of training to students in addressing the issue.

In spite of those problems, it was evident that the impact of segregation campaign with students and CMC actions were bearing fruits in the field. But SSWRN and Ullal CMC was not clear of its impact on the citizens of Ullal CMC.

Hence, decided to study the impact of sensitisation workshops in motivating the 10k students to practice segregation of waste at school and their homes. The findings of this study is expected to throw light on the effectiveness of campaign, workshop design and role of key stakeholders in sensitising on sustainable waste management practices with citizens participation in Ullal CMC.

Research Questions;

Personal factors;  Whether the workshops conducted by Field work students were informative?  Did the information/knowledge provided positively influenced their attitude towards waste management?  Whether students of different age cohort and sex could influence family members differently? Factors influencing practice;  Whether students were able to practice segregation at home, school or public places?  What are the positive or negative factors affecting practice of segregation at house level?  What factors had positive or negative influence in practice of segregation at home External factors;  What are the suggestions for making segregation at source effective?  Role of Citizens, Commercial establishments, schools and CMC waste collection system. Methodology; 10,000 students from 42 educational institutes8 functioning in Ullal CMC area have been sensitised during the month of Jan 22nd -5th April 2019. The Impact assessment of the sensitising workshops will carried out by taking a 5% or 3% sample ( 300 or 500 students)

8 Ullal CMC area has 51 educational institutions catering to more than 10,000 students from Primary to PG level. These education institutions are managed by private as well as government. The prominent among them include; a) Hazarath Syed Madani Durga institutions (16) ,Mogaveera Sangha managed institutions(6) b) St. Sabastian church managed institutions ( 5) ,Basil Mission managed institutions (3)

Solid Waste Management -Impact of 2019 sensitising workshops for segregation of wastes on students in Ullal CMC

1. To verify the assumption of age of the student as an influencing factor ie., lower the age higher the influence on the parents’ and vice versa’. Hence, a stratified sampling method is planned to collect data from students of different age cohort for assessment. They include; a) Students of elementary grades(1-5th) b) Students of Primary grades(6-7th ) c) Students of High school Grades( 8th and 9th )

2. Feedback from the HM’s of all the 42 institutions will be taken to get thier views on the training impact 3. Families of the students trained in segregation will be covered (1%- 100 HH ) to verify the 4. The views of PK’s , Drivers and Health supervisor and Health inspectors of Ullal CMC will be gathered to understand the ground situation of segregated collection from various wards. 5. Views of selected ward counsellors from various political parties will be gathered to assess their views on segregation of waste at source.

Focussed group discussion with students, CMC Poura Karmika’s and rivers will be adopted to get qualitative and quantitative data. Interview schedules will be used to gather information from Heads of education institutes and CMC functionaries and Elected representatives.

The data collection and FGD will be carried out by 27 field work students of Roshni Nilaya after piloting the tools and orientation on the study objective, design and FGD techniques. The study will be guided by the director Ext. Service and the faculty of SSWRN. Data collection will be carried out during the first week of Sept 2019.

Tools of data collection;

The google forms app will be used for uploading the results of FGD with students groups as well as for personal interviews with HM’s, Parents, and Elected Reps and CMC functionaries

FGD with students groups and Poura Karmika’s will be adopted.

The findings will be triangulated to arrive at the effectiveness of the training on segregation of waste at source on the students to study the assumption of their influence on parents.

25th Aug 2019 Sustainable Development Forum

c) Government schools ( 4 ) ,Others( 7 ) The above institutions have around 300 teachers and administrative staffs working are potential resource support for creating awareness on segregation of waste by motivating 10,000 students force. The 31 wards of Ullal CMC can be mapped with these educational institutions through an intensive campaign on Zero waste management with specific focus on waste segregation at HH level, Institutions and Commercial shops (CS) of Ullal.