Multi-business conglomerate ITC launched its Well-being out of Waste (WOW) initiative in the city almost a decade ago; Dabur India rolled out its plastic waste recycling project here last year; ZF Wind Energy is all set to launch a home composting programme here jointly with Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC) and Coimbatore Corporation. But, why are Coimbatore industries not focusing on solid waste management in the city through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities or as social entrepreneurship projects ?
“It is a question to be asked,” says Ravi Sam, chairman of the sub-committee on Sustainability, CSR and Affirmative Action, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Southern Region. It is an entrepreneurial city and plastic waste is a raw material that is generated every day.
There are several products made out of recycled plastic, he says.
Companies focus on environment, water, and education for their CSR programmes. But there are not many in solid waste management, adds R. Raveendran, secretary of RAAC.
Govt. support
One of the reasons probably is the fear of working with the government as solid waste management programmes require the support of the local body, say sources.
Further, multi-storeyed buildings and gated communities should start such waste management projects on their premises. It will bring down nearly 100 tonnes of waste coming to the dump yard.
In Kerala, the CREDAI has implemented a programme successfully, say the sources.
A CREDAI member here adds that CREDAI Clean City Movement is a separate company in Kerala. The programme started in one city nearly seven years ago and has expanded to more places. In Coimbatore, the CREDAI did sign an agreement with No Dumping three years ago and covered 50 buildings in the project.
The waste will be segregated at source in these buildings and given to No Dumping. Agreeing that waste management is the need of the hour, the CREDAI member says the State Government and local body should support such initiatives for these to pick up in the city.
G. Karthikeyan, former president of The Indus Entrepreneurs, Coimbatore, says even in the hackathon that it conducted with focus on civic amenities there was hardly any project related to solid waste management.
There are some entrepreneurs who ventured into it, but faced challenges and could not proceed. However, it is a segment with “enormous scope and huge requirement,” he says.
