IIM Shillong hosts roundtable on sustainable waste management

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 17, 2025

IIM Shillong recently hosted a roundtable discussion on the challenges and opportunities in waste management in the region on January 15. Organized by NE-CCIE (Northeast Centre for Community Impact and Engagement), the event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Meghalaya Institute of Governance, Bethany Society, OCU, and Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong Nongthymmai Pyllun, to discuss sustainable waste management practices for Shillong.

The meeting was inaugurated by Prof. D P Goyal, Director of IIM Shillong, who welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of collaboration between academic institutions, government bodies, and local communities in addressing waste management challenges in urban areas. Col. Dinesh Adhikari, CAO of IIM Shillong, presented best practices adopted by the institution, including innovative measures to reduce waste and promote sustainability on campus. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Teidorlang Lyngdoh, Chair of NE-CCIE, who guided the deliberations and ensured meaningful contributions from all participants.

The discussion focused on innovative approaches to tackle the city’s waste management challenges, driven by rapid urbanization and population growth. Participants explored ways to integrate waste management practices with community involvement and policy support.

Key points discussed included:

Waste segregation and public awareness, highlighting the importance of sensitizing communities to segregate waste at the source and introducing labeled bins for organic and non-organic waste. Community-targeted awareness campaigns were proposed to enhance participation in these efforts.

Water ATMs for clean drinking water, proposing the installation of water ATMs in strategic locations to provide clean drinking water and reduce dependency on single-use plastic bottles, addressing both environmental and public health concerns.

Community-driven solutions, encouraging each local community to take responsibility for its waste management by training local youth to lead waste management initiatives, fostering a sense of ownership and creating employment opportunities.

Stewardship of rivers, emphasizing the importance of river stewardship and engaging communities residing near riverbanks in preserving and managing river ecosystems, focusing on reducing pollution, managing waste near water sources, and restoring ecological balance.

Recycling and repurposing waste, discussing the establishment of recycling centers and composting facilities to repurpose non-biodegradable waste for energy generation or other uses, while turning organic waste into compost.

Promoting commercialization, exploring the potential to commercialize waste management practices by turning waste into economic resources, addressing environmental challenges, and creating meaningful employment opportunities for local communities through commercial models for recycling and upcycling.

Supportive government policies, highlighting the need for collaboration with local government to provide infrastructure, incentives, and policies for waste segregation, recycling, and eco-friendly initiatives.

Pilot projects and data collection, proposing the launch of pilot projects in select areas to refine waste segregation systems and gather data on waste generation patterns, tailoring solutions to the needs of Shillong’s urban and rural areas.

Collaboration with NGOs and experts, identifying partnerships with environmental organizations and local NGOs, such as Bethany Society and Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong Nongthymmai Pyllun, as critical to implementing community-based waste management programs, including waste recovery and segregation training.

The roundtable concluded with a commitment to collaborative efforts in addressing Shillong’s waste management challenges and promoting sustainable practices. Participants emphasized that integrating innovative solutions with community-driven approaches and policy support would lead to a cleaner and more sustainable Shillong.