Waste into compost: KCW students take garbage management initiative

Through zero-waste initiative driven by students, the students of Khalsa College for Women (KCW) have successfully diverted 660 kilograms of biodegradable waste from landfill and transformed it into nutrient-rich compost-while preventing emissions equivalent to 0.66 metric tonnes of CO? in the process.

Launched in February 2025 by the Air Care Centre, in partnership with Clean Air Punjab, the zero-waste model involves the segregation of food and garden waste at source, composting in pits and reintegrating the resulting compost back into the college gardens. The process not only closes the loop on organic waste but also provides real-world experience in climate mitigation for students leading the effort.

"This isn't just a waste management project-it's a live climate solution," said Dr Kumari Sita, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany. "Our students are learning to quantify their environmental impact and act on it. It's education, empowerment and emissions reduction rolled into one."

The climate benefits of the initiative are tangible. By composting 660 kg of biodegradable waste, Khalsa College for Women has avoided the release of greenhouse gases, equivalent to driving 2,400 km in a car or the energy used in 75,000 smart phone charges. And these figures weren't just estimated-they were calculated by the students themselves as part of their fellowship training under the Air Care programme.

"For the first time, I felt like the climate story included me," shared Kawalpeeet Kaur, a second year student and Air Care fellow. "We were able to see how our actions could change the numbers-and that's incredibly motivating."

Principal Dr Surinder Kaur sees the initiative as a model for others to follow. "Our young women aren't just talking about sustainability. They're building it with their own hands. As an institution, we are committed to walking this journey with them and inspiring others to do the same."

Sanam Wazir, State Climate Head at Asar, emphasised: "What Khalsa College for Women has done is shift the narrative from climate despair to climate leadership. It's a reminder that solutions don't always come from the top-they often begin with students, teachers and institutions taking the initiative."