TRICKY ROLE

In 2015 September, I happened to attend a seminar about waste management held in Tilak Mandir. It was a welcome subject and I signed in a register of attendees wishing to have more information on the subject. Thereafter, a number of meetings were held in the BJP office about the same matter, by the same people. Both venues, that is, Tilak Mandir were located conveniently between my workplace and home. The programes also happened to be very conveniently scheduled at that time- so I made it a point to attend regularly. Soon ‘Swacch Parle Abhiyaan’ was born and I discovered that I was among the cast of characters with starring role to play. Really at that point I had nothing to say against it and things fell into place quickly and I went along. So I made segregation charts, gave presentations to societies and freely participated in discussions/ meetings/ planning and generally giving my time.

SPA developed very well in the following year. I made great new friends and together we marched along spreading the message of ‘zero waste from Parle’.  That year was good- I learnt so much about how things work- on a larger scale. So far my understanding was only upto interpersonal and personal issues. But SPA gave me an understanding of people’s thoughts and behaviours on a larger scale. On the way, I figured out how actually MCGM works. I also let my creative juices flow and started some other activities which indirectly encouraged people to get into composting- like tree plantation and organic gardening.  Loads of learning in 18 months!

Unfortunately for me- things began to unravel in the second half of 2017. Time became short and the activities of SPA began to interfere in my professional work. All Parlekars with a good attitude were already converted to the cause and we could make no further progress. MCGM remained same- we discovered and many of our great ideas lay dormant in their files. Interpersonal issues started becoming prominent, so that it became necessary for me to take measures. First thing was to put some distance between myself and political people on the group. Next  I had to restrict my activities to Vile Parle East.  My patients are always a priority and I wanted to remain within jurisdiction at all times except while on vacation- so that my patients can get help when they need me. I thought- my profession itself gives me so much chance to do social good, rather than spending time for SPA I should increaset he hours of my work.  I stopped getting into any new SPA projects. Slowly thus I have withdrawn myself from the SPA and now restrict myself to moral support.

My original agenda in attending the SPA activities was actually to document the happenings through my blog. Because I got so involved in it, I gave up on this. Had I continued the writing at that time I would have had to write biased reports or else avoid writing anything that could bring me into conflict with anyone. Plus writing about SPA would mean writing about myself. My thought is not to write about myself and to avoid at least conscious bias in reporting. Most importantly I want to write without fear. So the blog was suspended.

Now, I think I can begin again

COMPOSTING BASKET

A lot of Parlekars have been using the composting basket to create black gold from kitchen waste.

Originally Developed by Shri Jayant Joshi as 'Kitchen Composter', now several prototypes are available in the market (particularly Vile Parle East). Called 'Nisargadoot', or simply 'SPA' basket.

Based on the principle of 'bio composting'.

This blog is for those who have yet to try it or for those who have tried but not got the expected results. This is the way to use the basket--------

PARTS OF BASKET COMPOSTING SYSTEM

1. Plastic basket

2. accelerator culture

3. cocopeat

4. stirrer

HOW IT WORKS

This system is sufficient for a family of 4-5 persons. The system is designed to modify natural composting process so that it is faster, free of mess and easy to use at home.  It is the ‘bioculture’ method. The accelerator culture provides special microbes which help to convert organic waste to compost in shorter period of time. You will see white fungus, small worms and insects in the basket which do work of composting. Basket provides good supply of oxygen, balance of humidity and temperature so that microbes are comfortable. With the help of stirrer you can turn the compost as this helps it to work better. Cocopeat is added to get proper texture by adjusting wetness.

STEPS IN STARTING

1. Open the basket

2. empty the full packet of culture into it

3. spread into a layer

4. put a handful of organic waste and mix thoroughly

5. close the lid and keep the basket in a shaded airy place

6. every day open the basket and give it a thorough stirring. Keep the lid open for about 30- 40 mins. Then add your organic material and stir again. Leave for 15 mins. Close the lid

7. when your basket is full upto 3/4ths it is time to harvest the compost.  At this stage do not add fresh material for 2 days. Then to harvest you can simply sieve all the contents and collect the fine part as compost. The coarse parts are to be added back into the basket.  Plus take a handful of the fine part and add it back to the basket.

8. add organic matter and start the process again

WHAT PROBLEMS CAN OCCUR?

The system is designed to give practically no problems if you read through this and follow all steps meticulously. Still one has to refer to this write up frequently to learn the perfect way to use it by avoiding all problems. So keep this carefully. For any problem contact me....

WHAT CAN BE COMPOSTED IN IT?

This system is ideal for composting organic material which is generated in kitchen. It includes vegetable, fruit and non vegetarian materials; in cooked and uncooked forms. To get best results you can do following-

1. Always drain your organic matter in a colander and add it to basket when it stops dripping. You may have to squeeze it to remove extra liquid. All liquid goes into drain

2. cut your organic materials into 2 inch pieces before adding to basket

3. for first two cycles add only raw and uncooked vegetable and fruit material. Do not add cooked food, spoiled food or non vegetarian food for the first 2- 3 cycles of compost making.

4. later if you plan to add cooked, spoiled or non veg food, you follow this method- your basket must have one and half inch of material ready in it already.  Open your basket and stir the contents thoroughly. Then take your mixed organic waste, chop them as mentioned earlier, wash them with little water to remove masala and salt and drain them thoroughly.  Bury the material in centre of basket and cover it over.  Do not stir at this after adding. Close the basket. Next day stir the contents thoroughly first- bury new material in centre of basket and cover it. Close the basket.  Continue till 3/4^th full and harvest compost as usual

5. if you want to add garden waste or nirmalya, following needs to be done- add only flowers, leaves, thin twigs. Do not add thick branches, whole coconuts or hard fruits as basket cannot cope with them even if these are compostable. Do not add diseased materials. You may have to sprinkle water as garden waste tends to dry out fast.  Cover with newspaper if drying out is frequent occurrence.

HOW CAN I BE COMFORTABLE AROUND MY BASKET?

To be comfortable your basket should not smell, should not give out insects etc and look presentable. You can do following to achieve the same.

1. control moisture- your basket contents should be moist and grainy looking. It should not look wet and lumpy or dry and powdery. Regular and thorough stirring gives good moisture control.

 If there is lumpiness and add cocopeat or tissue paper or sawdust or newspaper and stir again. You have to double the time of keeping basket open. Give two three days to normalise

If the contents look dry or powdery, stir the material and cover it with two layers of newspaper. Then close basket lid immediately. If after one day, it still looks dry, sprinkle a bit of water before covering with newspaper. Give 2-3 days for it to normalise.

2. your basket will have small insects and worms as these are the workers making your compost.  We have to ensure that they do not come out of basket. Also tea leaves can be washed if you do not like ants coming into your basket. Give a good wipe to your basket exterior and its immediate surroundings with a rag dipped in 50% household vinegar. Or you can spray it on basket and surrounding after servicing it, every 2-3 days. So the creatures remain inside and do not come out

3. always keep basket clean from outside. Keep it on a plastic or rubber sheet to avoid staining of floor underneath. Raise it on a brick or small tile so drainage is easy. Keep in a place where free air circulation is available. You may cover with single layer of thin cotton or jute cloth. If keeping outdoors protect from direct Sun or rain exposure and keep in a wire cage to prevent attacks from rodents. In outdoors, ants may enter basket- do not worry about them.

HOW TO USE COMPOST

1. After harvesting, keep the compost in aerated container like sack, cotton cloth or mud pot or open plastic container with loose lid for at least one month. After one month compost should feel cool to the touch and smell like wet earth after the first rains. Then it is ready for use. If smell is different or compost is warm keep for 2 weeks more and check again. Use only when compost is ready

2. this compost can be used for any plants to make potting soil, for top dressing or sprinkling for added plant nutrition.

KITCHEN GARDENING WORKSHOP

Through Swacch Parle Abhiyan we invited Purvi, Bhavana and Nilima to conduct a 'Organic Kitchen Gardening Workshop' In Parle. We had it yesterday.

It was 4 hours of pure learning of the best sort- The team took us from the basics to the complexities and the philosophy to the benefits of Kitchen Gardening. Why did SPA and I get involved?

Many folks have been resisting composting by giving excuse that 'what to do with the compost?'. So organic gardening is the answer. And some people are motivated for composting through organic gardening. As an environmentalist and doctor- I know that sustainable organic gardening is really good for health and surroundings. So I got personally involved.

It is to the credit of Purvi and her team that they did not charge anything. We took nominal entry fee for meeting expenses. The left over money will be used for other SPA work.

The main points covered were

One must manage waste scientifically to show respect for nature as well as safe guard environment. If we compost at home and use same soil for gardening we get assured results and fresh produce rather than spending for 'organic' labeled material. The garden should be planned based on our needs and how much resources we have.
The team covered the making of amritjal, soil, medicinal plants, pruning, transplanting, sowing, pest control. We will soon make a wa group of all participants so that team can mentor them as practical work gets underway.

We had 87 participants and all were listening with rapt attention till the very end. They have all given very positive feedback. So that now I have calls asking when is the next workshop. But I will refer them to the team headquarters at Kandivli. Here the workshops are held regularly. Better to attend there as it causes minimal disturbance to the trainers' lives plus we get to see many more samples of their work.

Cheers to our team of experts

A box for pins

We do segregate dry and wet waste and a large part of resource recovery is possible due to that. But what about tiny stuff?

Small metal pins, wires and stapler pins come to us in different ways. Technically they should be put in dry waste. Unfortunately the present segregation process is manual. Being very tiny bits, it becomes very difficult to select out the pins and they may not be recovered.

So each of us have to make a box with a small slit at the top (like a piggy bank) and collect the waste pins and metal bits inside it. It will fill only after a decade or so. Meanwhile, it stays with you storing all the pins. When it fills up, we seal the cover to avoid spilling and put it in dry waste.

POINT TO REMEMBER- A similar system will work very well for battery cells

प्रॅक्टिकल पार्लेकर

काही पार्लेकरांना पर्यावरणाची काळजी असते तेवढेच अनेक प्रॅक्टिकल प्रॉब्लेमही येतात. 

बाहेर पडताना पिशवी घेऊन जाणे विसरणे त्यातील एक.  असे नेमके चॅम्पियन समोरच्या भैयाकडे जाताना घडते...सकाळी फिरायला जात असताना घडत नाही.  कारण येताना कुंपणाआड असलेली फुले गोळा करताना मोफत पिशवी हक्काने मागता येत नाही.

घरातली व्यवस्था काम करणाऱ्या बाई किव्वा मामा बघतात. त्यामुळे कचर्‍याचे वर्गीकरण होऊ शकत नाही. त्याना समजावणे फारच कठीण वाटते. तरी हेच लोक साहेबांना जूस आणि मनूसाठी पापलेट कसा आवडतो हे शिकू शकतात. नवल नाही का?

पार्ल्यात जागेची टंचाई आणि महागाई.  मग दोन डब्यांचा खर्च करणार कसा? दोन डबे ठेवणार कुठे? पण कार ही जीवनावश्यक वस्तू असल्याने कर्ज काढून ...जागा करून प्रत्येकासाठी एक नग असते.

वास येतो. अस्वच्छता. उंदीर- घुशी येतील म्हणून आपल्या आवारात खत प्रकल्प नको. पण रोज आंघोळ न करून डियोडेरंट वापरणे. रस्त्यावर बिचार्‍या पक्षी प्राण्यांना शेव बिस्किटे चारा देणे. आणि दिसेल त्या पिंपळाजवल निर्माल्य टाकणे याला पर्याय नाही असे वाटते.

असे प्रॅक्टिकल पार्लेकर असल्याने कचरा व्यवस्थापन रखडणार नाही तर काय?

कमीत कमी एवढे करावे

पालिके कडून पार्लेकरांना प्रतिसाद न मिळाल्याने स्वच्छ पार्ले अभियान बंद करायचे का?
अजिबात नाही.  कचर्‍याचे वर्गीकरण केलेच पाहिजे.  पालिकेच्या नेहमी येणाऱ्या घंटा गाडी ला फक्त निरुपयोगी कचरा द्या.  ओला कचरा आपआपल्या घरी कंपोस्ट करा. अगदीच पर्याय नसेल तरच ओला कचरा देखिल बाहेर पाठवा.
काही झाले तरी सुका कचरा मात्र या गाडीला देऊ नये.  इथे आपण चुकतो. 3-5 दिवस सुका कचरा गोळा करून देण्यात यावे. यासाठीच पालिकेतील वेगळी गाडी आहे. सध्या याचे कंत्राट श्री गुणवंत जाधव कडे आहे. पालिकेत त्यांचा फोन नंबर मिळेल. ते आपले काम नियमित करत नाहीत हे मात्र खरे आहे. तरी फोन करुन आठवण केल्यावर येतात.
ओला सुका कचरा वेगळा करणे पुरे नाही. ते वेगळेच द्यावे लागते.  आपल्या पर्यावरणासाठी निदान एवढे तरी करू या

कचर्याचे वर्गीकरण असे करा- मराठी

सुका कचरा	सेंद्रिय कचरा	निरुपयोगी कचरा
पिशवी मधे गोळा करणे	हिरव्या बिन मधे गोळा करणे	तुमच्या घरच्या बिन मधे गोळा करणे
मजबूत पिशवी वापरा	प्लास्टिक वापरू नये, वर्तमानपत्र वापरणे	कागदामधे गुंडाळून देणे उत्तम
कगद प्लास्टिक काचा धातु थर्माकोल लाकडाचे टुकडे कापड झाडू आणि लादी पुसायचे कापड घसणी चमकणारे कागद टेट्रापैक चीनी मातीचे टुकडे थोड्या प्रमाणात प्लास्टिक आणि टाकाऊ ताट आणि भांडी	स्वयंपाकघरातील- फळ- भाज्यांची देठ आणि सालं उरलेले आणि खराब झालेले अन्न मांसाहारी अन्न चहा- कॉफी चे गाळण अन्न चिकटलेले टिशू आणि कागद सुपारी पानाचे किव्हा उसाच्या चोथ्यानी बनवलेले ताट, भांडी पाळीव प्राण्यांचे अन्न- विष्ठा टाकू नये बागेतून- फुलं, पाने, छोटी फळे, छोट्या काठ्या- काड्या देव्हार्यातून- फुले, पाने, छोटी फळे, प्रसाद, सुती दोरा	सानीटरि नाप्कीन डायपर कंडोम ब्लेड ड्रेसिंग आणि इंजेक्शन जुनी औषधे जुने मेक-उप चे सामान जुने रंग कीटनाषक आणि त्याचे डबे झाडताना गोळा झालेला धूळ-कचरा
मंगळवारी आणि शनिवारी जमा केले जाईल	रोज जमा केला जाईल	रोज जमा केला जाईल
डेब्री- विटा, राबिट, बांधकामातील सर्व कचरा- महापालिकेच्या गाडीला बोलावून माफक दरात उचलले जाईल. तोपर्यंत गोण्यांमध्ये भरून ठेवणे.
ई- वेस्ट- सर्व इलेक्ट्रोनिक आणि विजेची उपकरणे, एक्स रे, ट्यूब आणि बल्ब, बेटरी आणि त्यावर चालणारी उपकरणे खेळणी, सी डी, कसेट, मोबाईल- महिन्याच्या शेवटच्या शनिवार- रविवार जमा करणे