The North East Adventist University, supported by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), has embarked on a journey of managing the institute’s waste by inaugurating the university’s Waste Recovery Centre (WRC). The WRC, also known as the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), was inaugurated by Dr. G.H. Chyrmang, MFS, Member Secretary of MSPCB, who was also the chief guest on the occasion.
In his speech, Dr. G.H. Chyrmang lauded the university for taking this bold step to start managing its waste. He stated, “Waste is a global problem, and the Board is pleased to support the university in its efforts to properly manage its waste. Since it is very difficult for the government to procure land for landfills, WRC is the next best thing, where waste is segregated, recovered, and then reused or recycled.” He also extended the Board’s support by requesting the 13 cement plants in East Jaintia Hills to use Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) from waste that cannot be reused or recycled.
It may be mentioned that the North East Adventist University, Khliehtyrchi, in collaboration with the Society for Urban and Rural Empowerment (SURE) based in Jowai, and supported by the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban, has conducted an awareness program on the importance of keeping the university campus clean.
Under the leadership of Shri Wompher Shadap, Capacity Building Specialist at SBM Urban, PMU, Urban Affairs Department, an initial awareness program was organized, followed by a demonstration on waste characterization by the SBM Urban team on the university campus.
The management of the university has now reached the next stage of its journey to start a gated community waste management program at the university. This will be the first such project in the state, and MSPCB is pleased to support it. The Member Secretary also distributed three colored bins to different units of the university. Later, Dr. Chyrmang laid the foundation stone of the WRC, which is going to be constructed with financial support from MSPCB.
Awareness on waste management was organized in the second session of the program. Speaking as a resource person on the occasion, Dr. H.H. Mohrmen said, “It was also planned that the project would be a pilot test of waste management for a gated community, and we hope that the lessons we learn from this project will help us replicate it in other places too.” Others who spoke on the occasion were R.V. Syngkon, Beinonai Phiapi, Dr. Andrew Zimik, Registrar, Sandrew Syiem, Environmental Engineer, MSPCB, Dr. Jemima Marak, and Dr. Paul Bhaggien, Vice-Chancellor, NEAU.
