Connecting the dots in the circular economy

Ahead of World Environment day, here are two stories from Chennai that serve as a reminder that the circular economy thrives when organic linkages between various stakeholders are noticed and then established

Sometimes, one discovers with amused wonder that someone integral to one’s landscape and therefore inconspicuous, is pitted in the same battlefield as an ally by default. And the discovery extends to the fact that what they do can be a helpful tie-in to one’s own work. 

Kavitha Sivakumar, a resident of a gated community in Pallikaranai, recently added this truth to her worldview, thanks to a casual conversation with a neighbourhood kabadiwallah, Suryagandhi Kumar. She found out he welcomes sirattai — coconut shell — into his storing house in Pallikaranai, and when a substantial amount of it is aggregated, sells the pile.

Kavitha works with Namma Ooru Foundation (NOF), and she realised straightaway that Suryagandhi and his ilk could further a NOF initiative. 

Ever since the team at NOF realised coconut shells go into the making of activated charcoal, useful in water purification, and that there are entities looking for sirattai for the same purpose, Sustainable Sirattai Campaign was born, its details spelt out by NOF founder Natarajan. 

Recently, NOF notched up 150 kg of coconut shells, having aggregated it for a while, notes Kavitha. The source of coconut shells is currently restaurants. Kavitha now advocates empowering local scrap dealers as aggregators of coconut shells, educating residents on cleaning and storing the shells, and tapping into apartments for them.

“The biggest hurdle is connecting the dots between households, collectors and buyers. Without proper segregation, most shells end up in dumping grounds.”

Hygiene concerns such as mould and pests also deter scrap dealers from collecting shells, she adds.