WASTE MANAGEMENT

"There is no such thing as waste."- Leonardo Da Vinci

One of the core values of St Francis de Sales College (SFS) is being committed to providing a quality campus environment, SFS institutes have developed a comprehensive and efficient waste management plan to recover the large number of recyclables generated waste at the campus.

For the sustainable development of society, it is important to judiciously handle environmental issues like solid, wet and hazardous/E-waste management. Having understood this social responsibility, the institute has been divided into different zones to manage waste resourcefully. The residential zone includes the hostels and the academic zone comprises of different departments, laboratories, cafeteria, lawns, sickbay, guest house and workshop. Each of these zones is further sub-divided into different collection points. The waste generated is separately collected at predetermined sampling points.

The compositional solid waste is segregated in the following categories:
Plastic: Bottles, Bags, Straws, Cups, Styrofoam
Paper: Cardboard, Paper, Newspaper
Other materials: Glass, Metals, Leather, Rubber, Textile
Garden waste, Food waste
Hazardous waste: Batteries, Medicines
E-waste: Electronics and Electrical waste

All waste is managed by sanitary workers allotted for different buildings on the campus. Dustbins are placed at different locations on the campus. Some of them are placed in the classes and laboratories. Dustbins are also placed in front of the cafeteria and on the corridors at some places. These bins are emptied daily in the morning around 11:00 am to 11:30 am. The collected waste is transported to the disposal sites within the campus. The organic part of the waste is turned into manure by using sustainable practices such as composting and vermicomposting. The wet waste is taken to the 2 Biogas plants on the campus.

RECYCLING
Recycling our resource recovery is a key attribute in waste management, and it is very easily feasible in case of paper. Paper wastes are sent to the recycling plant (ITC) to make eco-responsible products like paper made pencils. E-waste or electronic and electrical waste is regularly collected from the campus and the neighbouring institutions. The college has an agreement with SAAHAS Zero waste NGO for recycling e-waste.

Encouraging waste reduction will reduce the quantity of waste and efforts required for disposal. So, intensive awareness programs are undertaken, and students are taught the best waste management practices.

SEGREGATION AT SOURCE
Segregation at the source is the key for making a sustainable waste management system. Training has been given to the sanitary workers for the proper handling and disposal of waste. Health issues if any of sanitary workers have also been looked after. Liquid waste, unwanted water which cannot be used for human consumption is treated.

Liquid waste is treated at the STP plant. The treated water is reused on-campus farm and garden. Treated Sludge is also reused as compost in farms and gardens. The management has efficiently taken up many quality initiatives related to health, hygiene, and nutrition.