New Delhi Municipal Council strengthens decentralized waste management through project SORT

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Under the leadership, guidance and vision of the Chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Shri Keshav Chandra and with a commitment to sustainable and decentralized solid waste management, the Municipal Council in collaboration with the Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA) is implementing Project SORT (Segregation of Waste for Recycling and Treatment) across its entire jurisdiction. This project is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the Motherson Group, supported by the Swarn Lata Motherson Trust (SLMTT) and is being implemented in residential societies, educational and institutional campuses, commercial markets and community waste processing facilities under the Municipal Council.

Under Project SORT, the Municipal Council has focused on creating decentralized solutions for processing wet waste, while also strengthening the segregation process at the source. This initiative emphasizes capacity building and behavioral change for all stakeholders from waste generators and residents to housekeeping staff and waste handlers through continuous awareness programs and hands-on training sessions.

Under this initiative, decentralized composting aerobins have been installed at key locations within the Municipal Council's area, including Golf Links, Kaka Nagar, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, St. Thomas School, YWCA, Lady Irwin College, PSOI Club, Dilli Haat, INA, Sangli Mess and Central Park. To date, 85 composters with a total capacity to handle 34,000 kg of wet waste have been installed at 13 locations. Through these Aerobins, more than 15 metric tons of wet waste have already been processed on-site and converted into nutrient-rich organic compost, which can be used by the municipal council as well as residents for gardening purposes.

Encouraged by the positive response and active participation of citizens, institutions and other stakeholders, the municipal council in collaboration with IPCA, plans to include five more societies and institutions under this model in the current financial year. Additionally, there is a proposal to enhance the capacity of the existing community composting model locations at Central Park and Sangli Mess to manage larger quantities of segregated wet waste.

The collaborative efforts of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Swarn Lata Motherson Trust (SLMTT), IPCA and local stakeholders have resulted in a noticeable shift in public behavior including improved implementation of waste segregation at the source, efficient on-site processing of wet waste and consistent operations managed by in-house staff and waste workers. These efforts are directly contributing to reduced waste transportation costs, improved local sanitation and increased public awareness.

The NDMC's on-ground experience through Project SORT confirms that factors such as citizen awareness, institutional ownership and appropriate infrastructure are essential pillars for achieving long-lasting and sustainable waste management outcomes. By scaling up decentralized composting and community-led approaches, the NDMC is continuously setting benchmarks, demonstrating how collaborative models can translate a vision into measurable impact.