ADC Mohali announces new waste management units in Kharar block of Mohali district in collaboration with RoundGlass Foundation

Mohali, June 5, 2022: On World Environment Day, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohali, Pooja Grewal, announced the building of a waste management unit in every village of Kharar block of Mohali district in collaboration with RoundGlass Foundation, a Mohali-based NGO.
Grewal made the announcement while visiting a waste management unit in Sarsini village, Mohali which was established and is being operated by RoundGlass Foundation. She also participated in a plantation drive held here to mark the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner of Mohali, Amit Talwar, said, “This is indeed a step towards creating a cleaner and greener Punjab by setting up sustainable, efficient waste management systems. The State Government will continue to work with RoundGlass Foundation in expanding its network of waste management facilities across the Mohali district to implement decentralized methods of waste management.”

In the past three years, RoundGlass Foundation has set up 115 waste management facilities in 115 villages in Punjab resulting in job creation for underrepresented communities and impacting 21,761households. The projects cover15 districts of Punjab — Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Roopnagar, Sangrur, SAS Nagar and SBS Nagar. These waste management facilities have helped in creation of 1200 tons of compost.

The Foundation in partnership with the Government of Punjab has implemented a decentralized model of waste segregation for composting, and recycling for efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable waste management. The state and local bodies cover 70-75% of the project cost via subsidies and the Foundation contributes 20-25% of the cost.

Talking about the Waste Management initiative, Vishal Chowla, Leader, RoundGlass Foundation, said, “We aim to reach every village in Punjab and engage with the community on the importance of proper waste management and disposal. The new centers aim to encourage the people of Punjab to segregate, recycle and even compost the solid waste generated at home.

With this expansion, RoundGlass also aims to proactively generate employment, reduce stress on village landfills, and help clean up local water bodies. We have pledged to create a cleaner, healthier Punjab and enable a life of Wholistic Wellbeing for its people. And we are tirelessly working towards expanding our network of waste management centers all over Punjab.”

In addition to setting up waste management facilities, the programme appoints door-to-door waste collectors who are trained to collect trash from households every day. The Foundation’s team also holds workshops to spread awareness on the importance of waste segregation and management among the local community. Additionally, it helps clean up villages and rejuvenate local water bodies to safeguard the environment. Since the programme’s implementation, villages have converted waste into more than 100 tons of compost that is available to farmers.

As part of its Plant for Punjab initiative, RoundGlass Foundation has planted more than 6 lakh tree saplings and created more than 500 mini forests in 700-plus villages in the past four years.

RoundGlass Foundation is committed to improving the lives of children, youth, women, communities, and the environment by making significant social, cultural, and economic investments in the state.