Octogenarian teaches how to compost through your waste

Thousands of people and several ALMs have been practising waste segregation and composting in the city. Bandra’s Dr. Peter Dias Road ALM no. 4 has also been practising it for past several decades. But what’s interesting is that the ALM has been doing this under the guidance of octogenarian Ms. Savita Mehra. With her undying spirit, she started composting in her neighbourhood; she started doing this around 1997.

A steady progress

Though the ALM started with a single place at Dr. Peter Dias Road, it eventually expanded, and seven compost pits have been set up since, in this neighbourhood. Ms. Mehra and other ALM members have been guiding residents of the neighbourhood to set up compost pits using the ‘BBC’ method, which stands for ‘brick, bagasse and cowdung’. This method makes the pit extremely easy to maintain.

Inspiring the community

The method can also be implemented in a bucket and is more suitable for flat owners who don’t have the space for huge pits. The waste-related work done by the ALM had even inspired a 13-year-old D’silva from Marinisha Building to become a green warrior. Today, a grown man, he has been instrumental in setting up the first compost pit in his building.   

Ms. Mehra shares, “We are all aware of the mess that Deonar has become and hence it is important to segregate dry and wet waste. Post this, the wet waste should be composted at home or in the society compound or wherever possible.” Even at this age, Ms. Mehra has been sharing her guidance and knowledge on waste segregation with neighbourhood residents.