Waste management efforts in Mapusa received a significant boost with the inauguration of a second dry waste collection centre, aimed at improving segregation practices and encouraging responsible disposal among residents.
The new facility, located at Ekta Nagar, complements the existing centre near Union Pharmacy in the Mapusa market area.
What sets the initiative apart is its incentive-based approach – residents can now earn by depositing segregated dry waste, a move expected to drive greater public participation in the town’s cleanliness efforts.
The project is a collaborative initiative involving the Anubhuti Foundation, Mapusa Municipal Council, and the Goa Waste Management Corporation, all working together to address the growing challenges of waste disposal in the town.
Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Priya Mishal urged citizens to make full use of the facility and refrain from indiscriminate dumping.
“We are taking multiple steps to keep the town clean, but the problem of open dumping continues to create black spots. This has to stop,” she said.
She pointed out that while door-to-door garbage collection is already in place, improper disposal habits persist.
“Our collection happens at a fixed time. Waste generated later should be stored and handed over the next day, instead of being thrown in the open,” Mishal added.
Highlighting the importance of segregation, she explained that dry waste such as plastic bottles, cardboard, newspapers, glass, and e-waste must be separated before being brought to the centre.
“Proper segregation at source is key to making this system effective,” she said.
The chairperson noted that the new centre provides residents with a convenient option to accumulate and responsibly dispose of dry waste, thereby reducing littering and improving overall sanitation.
Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza welcomed the initiative, calling it a people-centric facility.
“This is a good system not just for cleanliness but also for incentivising citizens. People should take advantage of it – not only to earn but also to contribute towards a cleaner Mapusa,” he said.
He added that the facility is open to residents beyond Mapusa as well.
“People from across Bardez can come and deposit their dry waste here, making it a broader community effort,” D’Souza said.
Officials involved in the project expressed hope that the initiative would help instil long-term behavioural change among citizens, reduce roadside dumping, and strengthen Mapusa’s overall waste management system.
