Waste to Wonder: Saswad’s Innovative Waste Management Lauded in National Cleanliness Awards

Pune, 17th February 2024: Under the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission,’ the competition for cleanliness among cities is intensifying. Cities are undergoing a rapid transformation under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Due to behavioral changes in the citizens, the Mission has evolved into a ‘jan andolan,’ resulting in the addition of new names every year to the list of clean cities.

Until last year, Saswad, which was on the 15th position, significantly improved its cleanliness ranking due to unique initiatives towards swachhata. Notably, the city achieved the ‘best ranking’ in the category of cities with ‘less than 1 lakh population.’ Saswad was recently awarded and felicitated by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, at the ‘Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023’ ceremony held at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan, Delhi. The city also received a ‘3-star rating’ in the ‘Garbage-Free Cities’ (GFC) category.

Saswad has also been declared a Water+ City, surpassing ODF, ODF+, and ODF++ in the ‘Open Defecation-Free’ (ODF) category. This signifies that the city has successfully addressed the issue of open defecation and implemented maintenance and operations of community and public toilets, resolving problems in slum areas.

The Water+ category indicates the city’s commendable efforts in reusing wastewater along with maintaining clean toilets. The ‘Used Water Management’ (UWM) focuses on treating used water by installing a ‘Sewage Treatment Plant’ (STP) in the city, which is then reused in various places, including toilets, contributing to water conservation.

Under the theme of ‘Waste to Wonder,’ the ‘Waste to Wonder Garden’ has been developed in the city. Saswad Municipal Council has repurposed 21 tons of scrap metal to create attractive artifacts, statues, models, etc.

Saswad has implemented special waste disposal arrangements, ensuring 100% waste segregation at source. The municipal council has incorporated two bins for separating wet and dry waste in all garbage collection vehicles. Special compartments for sanitary and harmful household waste have also been created. Following 100% segregation, a waste processing model through ‘Material Recovery Facility’ (MRF) centers ensures that no waste reaches the landfills.

The city sends the remaining waste to scientific landfills after completing 100% bio-remediation in 2019. Waste, categorized into different types, is sent for recycling to respective ‘waste to wealth’ plants, including ‘waste to compost’ and ‘waste to energy’ plants. Incineration machines have also been installed for sanitary waste.

Focusing on the safety of SafaiMitras, Saswad has taken significant steps, providing regular safety-related training. The city has earned the ranking of the 14th cleanest city at the national level, symbolizing Saswad’s remarkable journey towards cleanliness and echoing the new anthem of Swachh Bharat Mission, ‘Naya Sankalp Hai, Naya Prakalp Hai.’