STORY PREVIEW

2024

NO MORE NO WASTE

SAIRAM LEOMUTHU PUBLIC SCHOOL

TAMILNADU

MENTOR

NIRANJANI R

Step 1 FEEL

List the challenges or problems in your surroundings (school,neighbourhood etc.) that bothered you.

Waste management(segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes) in the school campus.

State the problem chosen to work and why.

Improper disposal of biodegradable and nonbiodegradable wastes lead to environmental pollution.Mixing biodegradable and non biodegradable materials will ruin the entire batch and make it unsuitable for composting.

Who were the people affected by the problem? What were their primary concerns?

The people affected by the problem of mixing biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes are communities living near landfills and dumpsites.These communities are often exposed to toxic chemicals and pollutants that can cause serious health problems including respiratory issues,cancer and birth defects.

Step 2 Imagine

List ALL the different solutions you came up with.

There are some different solutions for waste management. 1.Waste segregation - separating waste into different streams (biodegradable and nonbiodegradable) for proper management. 2.Regular collection of waste - Clean dustbins regularly to prevent odors and pest infestations. 3.Awareness to students -Provide guidelines to students on what types of waste go into each dustbin by color coding to differentiate between biodegradable(e.g green) and non-biodegradable (e.g blue) dustbins. 4.Composting - Breaking down organic waste into nutrient-rich soil amendments. 5.Recycling- Collecting and processing non-biodegradable wastes into raw materials for manufacturing.

Which solution from those listed above did you choose to implement and why?

In our school we are going to implement a waste segregation method.Separating wastes into different streams (biodegradable,non-biodegradable and hazardous) for proper waste management because segregating waste helps prevent the mixing of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, reducing the risk of pollution. Proper waste segregation can help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills,minimizing the environmental impacts of waste disposal.

Step 3DO

Describe very briefly the process of implementing your solution(s).

Awareness programmes conducted by students to each class explaining that biodegradable wastes can be broken down naturally by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi but non-biodegradable wastes that do not break down naturally in the environment.

What was the result or impact of your project?

Students will be able to identify which wastes are biodegradable and non-biodegradable.Students have the knowledge that biodegradable waste can be composted,while non- biodegradable waste often requires specialized disposal methods.

How many people were impacted by your solution(s)?

What did the impacted people have to say about your project? Provide 2 quotes or testimonials:

“This project is a great initiative and we are happy to support it.” - Our school teachers. “ I am impressed by your project and dedication to environmental conservation.This project inspired me to make changes in my own life.” - Parent “ Separating waste is now a habit for me. I am proud to be part of a project that is making a difference in my daily life.” - Poovithazh Annamalai, 8th grade student

What challenges did you encounter while implementing your project, and how did you overcome them?

Challenges that we faced implementing our project of separating biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes is a lack of awareness among students especially in kindergarten childrens. Another one important challenge is biodegradable waste may be contaminated with non-biodegradable materials, making it difficult to separate. To overcome these challenges we implemented separate dustbins by colour coding. For biodegradable green colour bins and for non-biodegradable blue colour bins.

How long did it take to implement your solution?

7-15 Days

Which global goals does your story align with?

Life on land

Please explain briefly why do you think so?

Proper waste management helps in Climate Action which reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Separating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste and composting it reduces the amount of methane emitted into the atmosphere.Waste management strategies can conserve natural resources,reduce pollution and mitigate Climate Action. Waste management systems promote sustainable use of the ecosystem by reducing waste disposal in landfills and promoting recycling and composting.Waste reduction,reuse and recycling conserve natural resources,reducing the pressure on land and ecosystem.

Step 4 SHARE

How did you share your project with your school and community? Who did you share your project with? What was their response?

We share our project to the entire school during an assembly,highlighting the importance of separating biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes.Creating eye-catching posters and banners to display around the school, promoting the project and its benefits.Visiting individual classrooms to discuss the project in more detail,answering questions and encouraging feedback. Overall sharing our project with the school students helped raise awareness about the importance of waste management and inspired others to take action.

Approximately how many people did you share your story of change with?

20-50

Briefly share your plan to sustain the impact of your project?

In our school we are planning continuous education and awareness among students.Implementing infrastructure development and maintenance by regular bin cleaning and adequate bin placement. Establishing volunteer programs to encourage students to participate in waste management efforts.Regular monitoring and evaluation of waste composition and identify areas for improvement.Integrate waste management education into school curriculum to educate students.

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