SWMRT launches Swachagraha campaign to promote home-composting in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: The Solid Waste Management Round Table ( SWMRT) in Bangalore, a volunteer group started to actively engage with the issues of urban waste management, has launched a campaign on home-composting, called Swachagraha.

This information and awareness campaign aims to encourage a million Bangaloreans to take the pledge to compost their wet waste and use the manure to grow vegetables in their homes.

“We have been doing this for years. We can say with confidence that it is not hard. It can work,” said Sandhya Naraynan, Spokeperson, SWMRT.

The website, swachagraha.in, acts as a one-stop solution for all composting needs. It provides information about composting and has demo-videos on how to do home-composting and terrace-gardening.

The website also lists a number of tested composting kits available in the market, with links to purchase them online.

As a part of the campaign, the SWMRT has called for the support of citizens and organisations.

“We encourage people to take this up as groups - as organisations, as communities - that way, everyone is motivated to keep going,” Naraynan said.

Soon, it aims to create a network of mentors who can assist those in doubt across the city and conduct frequent workshops.

Vani Murthy, an urban farmer and composting expert is the face of the campaign. She said, “It was a big failure when I tried composting the first time. But when you do it with reason - saving the city from landfills and growing your own food - you will get it.”

The campaign goes beyond composting, and urges everyone to use the compost to grow vegetables in their houses. “Today’s children think food comes from supermarkets. Let us show them how it is grown, in our small balconies or even windowsills,” Murthy said.

Naraynan said the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has extended its complete support to the campaign and the BBMP is expected to join soon.