Green works

It was Sunday morning and Chander reluctantly drove towardsthe SGDPA market complex at Margao for his weekly shopping. He hated the smellof rotten fish and meat that often gave him headaches. But surprisingly themarket place was neat, clean and devoid of foul smells. On inquiring, thevendors told Chander that ‘Green Goa Works’ had taken the charge of cleanlinesshere and Espie Kandolkar had educated them on how to keep the area clean. “Atlast someone thought of this,” Chander said to himself while he shoppedhappily.    

How does Green Goa Works manage it? “We offer consultancyservices in solid waste management and waste water or sewage treatment. Wetrain individuals, housing societies, panchayats and companies that areinterested in finding a green solution to their waste. We provide informationabout the type of waste that can be recycled or given away to the collector,”informs Espie, a former teacher-turned-composting consultant.

“Our eco-shop has a sales counter where organic rice,spices, pulses, sugarcane jaggery (in powder form as well as granules) andwheat grass grains are available.” Wheat grass juice is popular among the dietand health conscious tourists who buy the organically grown wheat grains andgrow their own wheat grass in cycles.

The shop sells seeds for seasonal vegetables to grow in akitchen garden, terrace or balcony. “Chillies, tomatoes, ladies fingers, lemon,karela, brinjal, garlic, ginger and lemon grass can be grown in pots even inflats and we demonstrate how to take care of these home plants using homecompost,” she informs and continues, “We promote the use of organic solutionsfor pest control which are hygienic and safe for human health.” The septic tankoverflows can be controlled by using EM bacteria and the water can thus be usedfor trees in the garden. The uses of micro-organisms includes treatment ofsolid waste, plant promoters, pet sprays, EM based detergents for washingclothes, odour remover for the fridge also goes a long way in safeguardinghuman health.

Composting allows for waste disposal in a manner that isnatural and hygienic in addition to providing manure for use in the garden. Thehousing societies can use composting units to treat their wet waste.Vermicomposting units are set up for residential areas, housing colonies, resortsand factories. “In vermiculture the soil can be aerated and fertilised byearthworms thereby facilitating the growth of plants in farms, gardens andorchards. Organic waste can also be converted into manure. We supply earthwormsand AMCs for earthworm / vermiculture units for processing organic waste,” shesays.

Highlighting that segregation is important, she advises,“Bio-degradable waste should never be mixed with non-bio-degradable waste ormedical waste. The Diapers and sanitary napkins should be incinerated or burnt.The smaller housing societies can go for simple barrel composters or compostingbins. Individual houses or bungalows can do with barrels cut into half.Barrels, ‘khambas’ or old buckets with saw dust can be used in flats.”

Green Goa Works is all about a greener future! As anon-profit organisation, it deals in eco-friendly solutions to combatenvironmental problems that inevitably crop up during the process of unplannedand rapid urbanisation. Their organic food products are certified by theOrganic Farming Association of India. “Our services and products are all aboutmaking the environment greener and clearer. As suitable alternatives to moreenvironmentally taxing solutions, our services and products enable greeninitiatives like waste management and recycling, water harvesting, waterconservation, natural cooling methods in housing, natural pest controlsolutions and more,” says Espie who has a green solution for every problem onearth.