The “Alag Karo- Har Din Teen Bin” aims to build awareness and to implement source segregation of waste in residential complexes, educational & commercial establishments and develop capacities of the waste workers to improve recycling rates, reduce burning and dumping, in the city of Gurugram. In addition, several public campaigns through print, social media and citizen engagement in malls, parks, food hubs and other public places forms a part of mass engagement for spreading awareness on source segregation of waste.


The project has been supported by Coca-Cola, GIZ and Tetra Pak and implemented by Saahas in collaboration with MCG (Municipal Corporation of Gurugram).
 
The program has been able to build strong community connect by working closely with citizens, schools, colleges and the Urban Local Body and instilled a sense of ownership and commitment for improving waste management in their communities. It has also been able to institutionalize source segregation and made it sustainable for different communities to implement and manage it on a sustained basis.

The Alag Karo program has devised comprehensive framework for implementation of source segregation in the RWAs, schools and commercial establishments. It has worked in the following areas:

1. Established best practices & processes in residential complexes- More than 20,000 households spread across close to 40 complexes are part of this program.
2. Catch them young – Children are great change agents. Today 31,000 students across 35 schools are understanding that source segregation is the first step towards circular economy.  
3. Commercial establishments- This is another area which needs customized solutions for implementing source segregation. Alag Karo is being implemented in Cyber city which houses more than 350 offices and also includes Cyber hub which has 300 plus restaurants. The focus here is setting in process and training of housekeeping staff.
4. Waste workers – more than 500 waste workers have been trained on source segregation of waste, health and safety best practices. In addition, a tool ‘Litpik’ has also been designed by the team to help waste workers pick up items without bending down and without using hand thus improving efficiency and health and hygiene.
5. Framework for institutionalization- Development of a detailed  process for institutionalizing source segregation in residential complexes, educational institutions, offices and commercial complexes.

The impact of the program is visible clearly at the communities where it has been implemented. In addition, its wider influence at the city level is also very tangible. Alag Karo has been able to build a network of communities dedicated towards improving waste segregation at source. It has also been able to establish a platform and an eco-system for various stakeholders for collaboration towards improving waste management in their communities.  Finally, this program has resulted in the growth of social entrepreneurship and rise of conscientious citizens who are willing to take extra steps to ensure effective management of waste in the city.