Navjeevan Vihar in Delhi has diverted more than 10 lakh kilograms of waste from landfills over eight years through community-led segregation and processing. The model gained attention after a visit by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu this week.
Dr Ruby Makhija moved into the colony of 280 households in February 2017. After her car was stolen she joined the Residents’ Welfare Association and later became its secretary. Discussions with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Solid Waste Management rules led the group to launch a zero-waste project in 2019.
Residents now separate waste into wet, dry and hazardous streams each day. Wet waste is composted on site while dry waste goes to a Reduce-Reuse-Recycle centre. The colony produces 250 to 275 kilograms of waste daily and claims to have kept more than 10 lakh kilograms out of landfills.
Makhija founded the NGO Why Waste Wednesdays to help other areas adopt similar systems. She noted that smaller or lower-income colonies often lack funds and infrastructure. The recent visit by the Lieutenant Governor has prompted talks about extending the approach citywide.
