Launch of First Bengaluru Recycling Habba - Think Before You Throw - 1-14 November 2011

Oct. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- The Solid Waste Management Round Table Bengaluru (SWMRT), supported by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), BBMP and the Karnataka High Court Legal Services Committee, is pleased to announce the first ever Bengaluru Recycling Habba 2011, aligning with Recycling Week observed internationally.  

From November 1-14, the Habba will feature several events across the city that highlight the importance of the three R's – reduce, reuse, recycle. With its slogan “think before you throw,” the Habba organizers hope to inform the people of Bengaluru about the urgency of managing their waste: the city currently generates 3,500 tons of garbage everyday and spends nearly Rs 402 CR per annum simply to dump that waste, rather than manage it.  As a result, from soil to ground water to farmed food, vital resources are being degraded and poisoned.  A simple change in mindset and behavior can substantially reduce the amount of garbage that makes its way into landfills and the city’s streets.

Jenny Pinto, Habba Curator, said:  “The aim of the organizing committee of the Bengaluru Recycling Habba and all members of the SWMRT is to bring together the stakeholders of the city, namely the Government, Industry, and Civil Society, to find sustainable solutions to Bengaluru’s growing solid waste issues.  We have organized the Habba in a collaborative and celebratory manner to encourage the sharing of ideas and responsibilities in an effort find a way forward and free us all from the menace of trash in the city.”

Key events of the Bengaluru Recycling Habba include:

Alternate Current  November 5-13, 6.30pm onwards, Olive Beach, Wood Street   Med Mosaic presents an exhibition-cum-sale  of ‘waste inspired’ upcycled lighting features  by a group of Bangalore based artists and designers.
Mela in the Mall  November 10-13:  A mela in Mantri Mall, Malleshwaram featuring exhibitions on the issues and solutions of solid waste management, host stalls selling designer fashion, stationery, toys, bags, jewelry, home accessories and a lot more, all made from recycled materials. The Mall will also have hands-on craft demos, games for children, video screenings and an art installation by students of CKP.  
ReFlea by Night  November 9, 6:30pm - 11.30pm, Olive Beach, Wood Street:  Olive Beach's ever-popular flea night is recycled as ReFlea, bringing together well-known designers to showcase a range of exciting products created by recycling plastic, tetra packs, glass, cloth, tins, waste paper, etc.
ReUse Mela  November 6 and 13, from 8am, Rotary Learning Center, IV Ph Govt School, Yelahanka New Town:  Bengaluru ReUse teams up with Rotary to organize an exchange mela, where people can come and exchange their unused household and personal items.
Recyclathon Awards  November 1-13, citywide:  Conceived and conceptualized by JGI’s Community Radio - Radio Active CR 90.4 MHz, this is a friendly awards and benchmarking tool for community recycling programs amongst schools, colleges, and corporate campuses promoting waste reduction activities. Check www.swmrt.com for the Award details and application forms.
Panel Discussion on “Extended Producer Responsibility”  November 7, 2:30pm, The Chancery, Lavelle Road:  An expert panel discussion chaired by Sajan Poovayya, advocate and Chairman,  FKCCI, on the urgent need for making Industry responsible for their products’ lifecycle, from manufacturing to disposal.
Trash Trail  November 9 and 11, 7am:  Organized by Daily Dump, Indiranagar, this is a guided tour that follows the trail of our trash from our doorstep to the land fill and recycling market which gives rare knowledge and insight into the highs and lows of the way our city deals with waste.
Bug Workshop  November 12, 11am:  Conducted by Daily Dump at Mother Earth, Domlur, this workshop for kids aged 8-16 encourages them to appreciate the important role of insects in the whole cycle of garbage.

The SWMRT, organizers of the first Bengaluru Recycling Habba, comprises a group of like-minded organizations and highly skilled individuals who have been working to build awareness of and promote the adoption of best practices in waste management in Government offices, public spaces, homes, offices, industries and educational institutions across Bengaluru.

In just over two years, the SWMRT has made many significant achievements: It has initiated and introduced segregation, recycling, and composting to 25,000 households, saving about 650 tonnes of waste being dumped into landfills; it has trained more than 125 BBMP environment officers; it has created a shift in municipal waste contracts for the city from waste disposal to waste management; through work with the Lok Adalat, it has ensured that the BBMP will allocate Rs 25 Lakhs per ward for dry waste collection centers; and, with intervention from the Lok Adalat, it has ensured the introduction of ID cards for the city’s rag pickers in an effort to make their jobs safer.

Find out more visit our website at www.swmrt.com or follow the Recycling Habba updates on Facebook at Bengaluru Recycling Habba 2011 and Twitter @RecyclingHabba.