By Mr. Nageshwar Rao, Joint Director – South India, CYDA
In Vishakhapatnam, Solid Waste Processing Centres (SWPCs) were set up to address local waste challenges and promote an eco-friendly environment. A total of 18 units were built across villages. Yet, many remain non-functional. Equipment lies unused, and its purpose is left incomplete. In Dabbanda and Juttada, no centres exist at all. Waste continues to gather on streets and open spaces, creating unhygienic surroundings and posing health risks. The idea behind these centres still holds great promise. With proper management and revival, they can turn waste into resources and help build cleaner, healthier communities. It was not that people did not care; actually, they were not aware of the process of what to do. Panchayat leaders had never been trained to operate the centres, budgets were too small to make an impact, and the idea of waste segregation was still seen as something extra but not essential.
The Challenge
The real problem was a lackof awareness and ownership. PRI members, sanitation workers and local leaders had little understanding of how to run SWPCs or why segregation mattered. Without community participation, even the best infrastructure failed. Leaders showed little interest, and people did not have the right skills, and the habit of throwing waste in open spaces continued.
As one sanitation worker in Gorapalli explained, “We collect the garbage every day, but there is no system to process it. It just piles up.”
The Intervention
Supported by HDFC Bank’s Parivartan initiative and implemented by CYDA, a simple but strong plan took shape: Train every key decision-maker and frontline worker to see waste not as a burden, but as a resource. Over several weeks, Panchayat-level orientation programs have been held in 20 villages — 13 in Pendurthi Mandal and 7 in Anandapuram Mandal, (Pedagadi, Pinagadi, Rampuram, Jerripothulapalem, Chintagatla, Saripalli, Gurrampalem, Mudapaka, Gorinta, Gorapalli, Juttada, Valimeraka, SR Puram, Rajayyapeta, Dabbanda, Mamidilova, Pekeru, Sontyam, Ramavaram, Gandigundam)reaching 1,000 people, including – Sarpanches, Ward Members, Panchayat Secretaries, Teachers, SHG Members, VDC members, Sanitation Workers, Anganwadi, ASHA and ANM workers and local youth leaders.
Key sessions were not lectures, but conversations
- Baseline survey results on waste generation
- Environmental & health risks of poor waste disposal
- Village-specific waste generation data
- Strategies to revive SWPCs
- Budgeting under DPDP & GPDP
- Best practices from other villages
During the sessions, held in village secretariats, participants witnessed a baseline survey finding that exposed “hotspots” of waste dumping. They learnt how segregation at source could make SWPC’s work more efficient. They heard about the villages turning waste into compost and income. In addition, they discussed how to secure funds through District Panchayat Development Plans (DRDP) and Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GDDP).
When awareness turns to Action
In Sontyam village, something remarkable happened. Midway through a session, an MPTC member stood up and promised to find a donor to buy a tractor for transporting waste to the SWPC. This was not just talk; it was ownership. Frontline workers began sharing how safer they felt handling waste when it was segregated. Some SHG members started discussing composting as a possible micro-enterprise.
| Quantitative Impact | ||
| Impact Area | Before | After |
| Awareness | Very limited knowledge of SWM among PRI members & workers | 1,000 trained on SWM practices |
| Functionality of SWPCs | Mostly idle or non-functional | Panchayats began planning activation |
| Budget Allocation | Small, without clear plans | Commitments made for DPDP & GPDP SWM funds |
| Qualitative Impact | ||
| Impact Area | Before | After |
| Orientation Programs | None conducted for PRI & workers | 20 conducted, engaging all key stakeholders |
| Panchayat Ownership | Low | Multiple Panchayats committed to responsible waste management |
| Community Participation | Limited | Majority of the villages-initiated discussions on waste reduction & recycling |
A new beginning for old centres
The SWPCs, once ignored, are now being used again. Leaders know how to use them; workers know how to keep them running, and communities are starting to see the value of segregation and recycling. These orientation meetings have started the journey towards cleaner, healthier and more independent villages, showing that with the right knowledge and teamwork, even waste can become something valuable.
As a Sarpanch from Pedagadi shared, “Before, we thought waste management was only the government’s job. Now we see it is our job and our pride.”
The youth voice
Young sanitation workers, SHG members, and even students attending the sessions saw waste differently. A 22-year-old sanitation worker from Gorapalli shared, “Earlier, it was just a job — pick up garbage and dump it. Now I understand how segregation can make our work safer and our village cleaner.” Some local youth groups expressed interest in starting composting units, seeing it not just as an environmental duty but also as a small business opportunity. The idea of waste as a resource vibrated strongly, especially among younger participants.
