Management of degradable and non degradable waste and Use of Sustainable Energy

Solid and Liquid Waste Management

Waste management is a problem faced by institutions all over. It is more acute when the institution is in a city where the campus space is limited. Don Bosco College is situated in a rural setting which provides the institution some advantages in effective waste management. The policy of the college with regard to waste management is Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and the college has put in place several strategies foreffective waste management.

Don Bosco College is declared as a plastic free zone. The students and staff strictly adhere to the green protocol by avoiding the use of plastic cups, covers, bags and containers. Waste baskets are kept in all the class rooms, wash areas and verandas. There is provision to deposit dry waste and wet waste separately so that sorting of waste is done at the point of origin itself. Wet waste primarily consisting of food waste is collected from the campus and hostels are given as food to pigs in the staff quarters. The College has put a system in place to collect wet waste each day from the College and the College hostels and make it reach the piggery.

Waste Recycling System

There is an effective water recycling unit operating in the hostel in which the waste water is purified and utilized for agriculture. Dry waste materials that are recyclable such as papers, plastic bottles, corroded metals etc are collected separate and sold from time to time to the scrap dealers and the recycling units nearby. There are incinerators set up in the campus and hostels for the disposal of sanitary napkins and other non-recyclable papers and non-hazardous combustible waste. Panchayath also take the initiative to collect non-bio degradable plastics, broken glass wares from the hostels. There is an effectively functioning biogas plant in the campus which generates cooking gas from bio-wastes.

E-Waste Management

There are several strategies in place to manage e-wastes. All efforts are made to ensure longevity of life for electronic gadgets in the college. Used electronic gadgets which are still useful, but needs replacement in the College context are sometimes donated on request to the socially disadvantaged individuals and groups. The e-wastes are collected together in e-bins and are sold to the electronic recycling units in Kannur from time to time. The Zero waste drive is promoted by the College with the aim of reducing the quantity of waste produced each day.

Use of Sustainable Energy

World today is looking more for renewable energy, which is sustainable as it originates from sources that are inexhaustible. Our college has set up a 5 KW off-grid solar power plant which will provide clean energy and help us to reduce pollution of our nature.It is a sustainable energy source that is reliable for the long-term and it is cost-effective and efficient. Since this us off-grid power system the energy produced is stored in the batteries connected to the panels and provides power to the college to some extend.