Earlier, in our villages, waste generated on the fields and animal waste was used as manure for the farms and there was o problem of its disposal. After the harvest, grass, Leaves and stems from the crop were used as fodder for farm animals while the dung from animals was gain used as manure. So long as this was done, waste was never a problem. With change in the lifestyle of villagers and the abandoning of recycling by urbanites, waste has turned out to be a major problem. The desire to somehow get rid wastes has turned every street into a waste dump.
On an average, every person generates about half a kilo of wastes every day. Most of this waste is packed in plastic bags. In the past, waste was disposed of outside the town/city. At present, however, houses have come up even here and the residents object to waste being dumped there. However father we go from an inhabited area, the problem of waste seems to have no solution.
Allover the world, people are working to September dry from wet waste. Wet waste is being used as folder for animals and dry waste like plastic, metals, paper and so on is handed over to the scrap dealer for recycling.
Take up this issue as a year- long campaign. Spread the message to popularize reduces. Reuse and recycle of wastes. Take the issue to being offices and to small families. Enlighten school, collage and university students on the need for reducing waste. We must explain to them, as part of our environmental project, that the problem of waste cannot be solved by increasing the size of the bin and that we must change our food habits and lifestyle in a way that will reduce he generation of waste.
This course on environment education provides basic inputs to you to understand and work for the environment. But if you want to continue your association with environmental issues beyond the course, you could from an eco club.
Start an eco- club five teams in your collage. The first team will work for water conservation and all issues relating to water. The second one will work for conservation for electricity and fuel. While the third unit will aim to work for protection of plants, birds and animals as well as for increasing greenery on the premises, the fourth will aim to keep the collage clean and beautiful and will see that the wastes are disposed of hygienically. The fifth team will care for the vacant area around the collage and make a plan to use it best, in an environmentally suitable away.
All the teams should hold regular meetings to take stock of the work initiated results of the action taken and set objectives for the next target session. Frequent exchange of notes by the five branches will not only help in keeping the eco-club activities on track but will also keep the interest of the participants alive in the program.
Program of the student eco-club: we can do a lot for our environment. A group can dedicate it self completely to one program or take up one issue every month. Thus, if each of the five groups in your collage can take up one program a month, in a year they can complete forty five to fifty five programs
Make out a plant for your eco-club and implement. At the end of the year, prepare a report. Ou ca presents in to collage authorities on April 22, which is observed as the earth day.
Role of the community
There is an urgent need to create awareness about the environment and the need to improve and protect.
Our collage eco- club is not enough for these purposes. We must form eco-clubs along the general public as well. The contributions of committed and interested people, particularly the young people, are important. There should bee either an eco- club or a Green Bridge in every part of our city/town. Take the help of the elders in the area to start such activity clubs.
Just as in our collage eco- club, we can have s many divisions in each club as the number of areas we chose to work in. the eco-club members will work to protect the environment, taking up specific programs. One division, for example, can campaign to preserve water, ensure its proper supply to the area and control its wastage. Another division can strive to prevent businesses or pushcart vendors form illegally occupying road space. The third can protect our parks, gardens or playgrounds in the area. The fourth can concern itself with efficient disposal of waste. The fifth can protect trees on the roadside. The sixth can see that drains flow easily and check their clogging. The seventh group can look into the supply of electricity and its wastage in the area. We can have an eighth group that presents environmentally oriented cultural programs.