New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), in partnership with the Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA), is rolling out Project SORT (Segregation of Waste for its Recycling and Treatment) throughout its jurisdiction, as announced by an official on Tuesday.

Overseen by Keshav Chandra, Chairman of the NDMC, this initiative serves as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, targeting residential societies, educational institutions, commercial markets, and community waste processing facilities managed by the civic body.

Project SORT aims to develop decentralised solutions for processing wet waste while enhancing source segregation practices, as highlighted in an official statement.

The initiative places a strong emphasis on capacity building and behavioral change, facilitated through ongoing awareness campaigns and practical training sessions tailored for all participants, including waste generators, residents, housekeeping personnel, and waste handlers.

As part of this effort, decentralised composting Aerobins have been established at significant NDMC sites, such as Golf Link, Kaka Nagar, CGE RWA, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, St. Thomas School, YWCA, Lady Irwin College, PSOI Club, Dilli Haat, INA, Sangli Mess, and Central Park.

So far, 85 composters with a total wet waste handling capacity of 34,000 kg have been installed across 13 locations. These Aerobins have processed over 15 metric tonnes of wet waste on-site, converting it into nutrient-rich organic manure, beneficial for horticulture for both NDMC and local citizens.

Motivated by the enthusiastic response and engagement of residents, institutions, and other stakeholders, NDMC and IPCA plan to include five more societies and institutions in this model within the current financial year, as stated.

Moreover, the capability of existing community composting sites at Central Park and Sangli Mess is set to be enhanced to accommodate larger volumes of segregated wet waste.

The synergetic efforts of NDMC, SLMTT, IPCA, and local stakeholders have fostered noticeable behavioral changes, leading to better compliance in waste segregation at the source, effective on-site wet waste processing, and sustained operations managed by in-house staff and waste workers.

These initiatives are contributing to decreased waste transportation costs, enhanced local cleanliness, and heightened citizen awareness, according to the statement.

An official remarked that NDMC's practical experience with Project SORT confirms that public awareness, institutional ownership, and suitable infrastructure are essential pillars for achieving enduring and sustainable waste management results.

By expanding decentralised composting and community-led practices, NDMC continues to establish benchmarks illustrating how collaborative models can transform a vision into tangible impacts, as stated by the official.