Zero Waste Kovalam: Crafting a Dream

Zero Waste is a fascinating vision which has captured the imagination of people across the world grappling with the ever more gripping problem of 'garbage'. Communities terrorized by a garbage crisis are organising around the magic pattern of activity thrown in by Zero Waste. Kovalam is one such.

Kovalam, a chain of beaches in the state of Kerala, southern India, has been listed by the National Geographic Traveller as one of the 20 must-see destinations of the world. Ironically, 'The Lonely Planet' has also listed Kovalam as one of the must-not-see destinations of the millennium in the world, because, although the beaches are beautiful, the mounting garbage is turning people away. But the people of Kovalam want the tourists to stay. One of the main reasons highlighted by all for the drop in tourist arrivals is the mounting garbage problem in Kovalam. Therefore the desire by most in the tourism business to manage the waste they create, dump and burn on a day-to-day basis.

The 19th and 20th of November signaled an important period of change for the community when all concerned got together by the beach to discuss possibilities for a future without waste. The Zero Waste Launch skillshare was led by presentations by Dr Paul Connet, the renowned anti-incineration activist and professor of chemistry at St. Lawrence University, who inspired the team to look beyond small hurdles that inevitably creep up and apply the vision of Zero Waste. He inspired local planners, nurses and doctors too to think out of the box.

Besides Dr Connet, activists and experts from across India shared their views. Of the participating organizations were Disha- Calcutta, Chintan- New Delhi, Goa Foundation, Toxics Link-Chennai, Equations-Bangalore, CEE-Bangalore, IRTC-Palghat, GAIA, KISS-Kovalam, Kovalam Mahila Sangam( Womens' group),VD Foundation and other organizations active in Kovalam. The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association, Kerala Tourism, Thanal and Greenpeace together organized the skillshare.

The Zero Waste team of Thanal and Greenpeace presented their work of the past nine months to the audience to elicit responses from them. There were several interesting arguments on the effectiveness of the ideas and the much needed prioritization. By the end of the skillshare, significant inroads into implementation were made with several decisions taken and several more in the chewing the cud mode.

Points of agreement reached were:

A commitment from all the sectors of Kovalam population to work together on the issue.
An agreement on waste segregation at source.
An agreement on an effective ban on plastics, PET bottles and all disposable plastic products.
An agreement on training of self-help groups on craft out of waste.
An agreement to set up a biogas plant and chicken farm to manage the hotel biodegradable waste.

There was also an understanding that the Government of Kerala will support the action plan in all ways possible. An added boost to the campaign came from the State Planning Board, the premier government agency making the five-year economic plan for the region, when it adopted Zero Waste in its approach paper to the new plan.

For further information, email Jayakumar C. of Thanal Conservation Action and Information Network:  thanal@vsnl.com