Bhubaneswar govt. schools lead the way in Zero Waste Movement

Bhubaneswar, Ap 26: Ten government schools in Bhubaneswar have successfully transformed into waste-free campuses under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) ambitious ‘Zero Waste’ initiative, aimed at fostering sustainable practices among students from an early age.

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The initiative promotes systematic waste segregation, the elimination of single-use plastics, and the creative reuse of waste materials to produce items like compost and incense sticks.

At Government High School in IRC Village, for example, students have embraced the use of steel water bottles and follow a colour-coded bin system green for wet waste, blue for recyclable materials, and red for hazardous waste.

“More than half our students have switched from plastic bottles to sustainable alternatives,” said Headmaster Pradipta Kumar Behera, highlighting the positive behavioural shift among students.

The programme is being implemented with the support of the Aasara Social Foundation, which is helping schools adopt composting techniques and 'waste-to-art' training. These creative workshops teach students how to convert discarded materials into useful or decorative items, instilling a sense of responsibility and innovation.

BMC Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil stressed the long-term benefits of environmental education, noting that early exposure to waste management practices will contribute significantly to shaping environmentally conscious citizens.

So far, 10 schools have been certified as ‘zero waste’ campuses, with another 10 in the process of meeting the required criteria. The initiative is part of Bhubaneswar’s broader sustainability mission, and the BMC plans to approach the state government for additional funding to expand the programme to more schools across the city.