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Zeroing in on waste management
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The Zero Waste Kovalam project having cast anchor, winds of change are blowing over the beach. JAZZMIN JIWA takes a look at the efforts of small groups to keep the beachfront clean and kindle awareness about waste management.
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The small patio, adjoining Ramachandran's house, partially shaded by surrounding trees, had become one of the five training centres for women in Kovalam. The shade, which provided negligible relief from the merciless afternoon sun, was of little interest to the trainees.
Because their minds were on something else.
Twenty-one-year-old Preetha, who was taking a break to attend to her baby, said, "It's a wonderful feeling to make a united effort to achieve a worthwhile goal."
Preetha's high spirits were met by gestures and smiles of agreement from the assembly of women. An onlooker would not have recognized such relaxed smiles and beaming eyes as the face of the battle against the plastic pollution that haunts Kovalam. Understandably however, as this scene is not reminiscent of the idle pessimism that has characterized the situation so far. Until now, residents and tourists alike have merely voiced worries and disgust at the worsening situation. Complaints about the ugly piles of plastic collecting behind the beachfront hovered in the air like the stale smell of the rubbish. Most simply feel powerless against the poisonous toxins leaking from the bottles and bags. But the keen voices of Thanal, Greenpeace and Karm Marg representatives have reduced the growing negativity to a muffled whimper.
Jayakumar, co-ordinator of Thanal, said, "When we complain about and question whether anything can be done about the problem of plastic waste, it is also our responsibility to seek for and execute solutions. And with such positivity driving the Zero Waste Kovalam project, solutions are indeed emerging. The two-week intensive training courses taught participants to make marketable goods from safely disposable or biodegradable materials, such as paper or bamboo. The ultimate aim is for these goods to eventually replace the plastic bags and other potentially hazardous items that are currently used daily across Kovalam.
With shy excitement, Moly, a participant of the paper bag making workshop, said, "I want to spend my spare time learning such useful skills that will lead to the prosperity of my family as well as my community. It is intended that with such obvious eagerness alongside practice and extensive training, Moly will be one of the many women independently manufacturing and managing the provision of paper bags in Kovalam. Assisting the training was Karm Marg Volunteer, Jiten Suchede, who said, "The women's groups may eventually run kiosks. We can help them contact banks so that they can run businesses independently.
Karm Marg, a large-scale manufacturer of attractive multi-purpose bags made out of waste materials, agreed to provide volunteers to facilitate the training sessions. With only their expenses paid by Greenpeace, Suchede is spurred on by the satisfaction that he gains from making a positive impact on Kovalam's society and working with the villagers. Sitting on the beachfront after a day's work, with an expression of genuine emotion, he fondly recollected the warmth and hospitality of the villagers. Smiling, he said, "The simple expressions of warmth make the work most gratifying. Today, a young boy picked tender coconut for me."
During the workshops in Kovalam, Suchede and the other facilitators effectively used actions and practical demonstration to provide encouragement and assistance to the trainees, to overcome the language barrier. And it is precisely actions and not words that have been the single most important factor in carrying out this project.
Shibu Nair, Thanal representative, advocates that the next steps involve an exhibition of the items produced during the training followed by a meeting to award certificates, proposals to the Kerala Hotels and Residents Association and the formation of a business infrastructure. Alongside the bag project, Thanal and Greenpeace are in the process of making tentative proposals for water dispensers to be installed in each restaurant and hotel. Tourists could then simply refill one bottle throughout their stay in Kovalam. As well as significantly decreasing the number of plastic bottles in the area, this method would also decrease the dispensability of bottles. Therefore, they would be less often dumped thoughtlessly around the beach. In support of this idea, bag experts, Karm Marg, plan to manufacture specially designed `bottle bags' to further minimize any inclination to leave water bottles behind whilst also creating another business opportunity for Kovalam's community.
As well as being logical, these ideas satisfy the requirements of the Kerala Municipal Act, which advocates that garbage should be seen as a resource-earning venture and not as a burden.
Struggling to keep afloat as tourism dwindles, manager of Hawa Beach Restaurant, Suresh, was pleasantly surprised to learn the Zero Waste Kovalam is not `just paperwork' as he previously thought. Having been disheartened by the decline in tourism at Kovalam in the past three years, his sudden curiosity revealed the refreshing hope that the project had injected. He eagerly welcomed the proposition of not using plastic bags; however, dubious voices from both Hawa Beach Restaurant and Coral Reef Restaurant, responding to the idea of water dispensers, showed that it would take more than a simple proposal to win their support.
Ambi of Coral Reef Restaurant expressed concerns that although plastic has environmental drawbacks, the business may lose money if they were no longer able to sell plastic bottles.
However, at the core of Thanal's plight to name Kovalam the first `zero waste' destination in Asia is the firm philosophy that long-term economic benefits cannot be dislocated from ecological considerations.
Therefore cost-benefit analyses must have environmental issues at their heart. Shibu Nair explained, "Plastic may initially seem to be a cheap option, but its detrimental effects on the environment, and on health as a result, means that in a few years, we will only end up paying doctor's fees."
As the team sets about educating the community about the severity of potential health problems associated with plastic and the ways in which the proposed solutions will be effective, many heads will certainly be turned by the confidence and innovative spirit embedded in the project.
It is hoped that the sensible solutions and ideas will also win the support of Kovalam's community so that the dangerous pollution looming over Kovalam's future can be confronted boldly.
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