On 16 July 2024, Goa took a significant step towards sustainable waste management with the inauguration of Project SAIM (Sustainable Approach to Integrated Waste Management). This initiative—a collaboration between WWF-India and Saahas Zero Waste—aims to revolutionize the way Goa handles its waste, addressing longstanding challenges with innovative solutions and community involvement.
SAIM’s comprehensive approach strengthens existing waste management while empowering local communities to manage their own plastic waste. It also empowers waste collection and segregation workers through various formal training and provides protective gear. The project’s ultimate goal is to foster nature conservation by increasing public awareness, nudging high-footprint stakeholders to adopt sustainable practices, recognizing areas in urgent need of action, and boosting recycling efforts.
A Sustainable Approach to Integrated Waste Management MRF’s Impact
The newly established Material Recovery Facility (MRF) is located in GIDC, Nessai, near Margao. It spans 7,000 square feet and is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, including trommels, conveyors, and balers. The MRF can process up to 10 tonnes of dry waste daily, serving 32 nearby village panchayats. Operated in full compliance with environmental and social regulations, the facility will serve as a cornerstone for effective waste segregation, collection, and processing. As the end destination for segregating different types of dry waste, the workers sort waste on a conveyor into more than 20 categories, which enables them to achieve maximum resource recovery. The project represents a vision for a circular economy where waste can be recycled and co-processed to become a usable resource.
Waste Collection Process in Goa
The initiative focuses on decentralizing waste management efforts across 30 village panchayats in South Goa, catering to a diverse range of stakeholders including hotels, resorts, corporate campuses, educational institutions and communities at large. Through comprehensive services for segregation, collection, sorting, and processing of dry waste, Project SAIM aims to divert materials from landfills and promote recycling and co-processing practices.
Valentino Barretto, Sarpanch, Chinchinim-Deusua (Head of the village), Goa mentioned they initially faced many challenges in terms of collection, and the fact that the village areas are quite big with limited accessibility. xx
“By addressing this issue of waste management at source. We hope to see a healthy river with good soil and inspire other decentralized initiatives for plastic and waste management, which will lead to a healthy terrestrial, river, and marine ecosystem across Goa,” hoped Suresh Babu, Senior Director, Ecological Footprints, WWF-India.
A More Inclusive Waste Strategy
Beyond dry waste, Project SAIM places a strong emphasis on managing organic waste sustainably, promoting practices such as home composting, onsite composting, and local mulching of garden litter. This holistic approach will ensure that both biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste streams are handled responsibly, minimizing Goa’s environmental footprint. By engaging local communities and adhering to stringent environmental standards, the initiative aims to position Goa at the forefront of sustainable waste management in India.
Wilma Rodrigues, Chief Transformation Officer at Saahas Zero Waste, emphasized the project’s broader impact, “Through Project SAIM, we are pioneering a model that integrates environmental stewardship with social responsibility. Our efforts are focused on achieving operational excellence while creating meaningful employment opportunities under safe and compliant conditions”.
