With a formal handover ceremony, the City of Puri has taken over responsibility for the operation and financing of waste management in the Penthakata settlement from Usthi. Usthi remains committed to integrating this topic into the surrounding schools. The new video shows where the waste management project starts – and why.
One of Usthi’s schools – founded in 1992 – is located in Penthakata, a fishing settlement on the outskirts of the city of Puri in the state of Odisha on the east coast of India. Over the years, the amount of waste in the settlement and on the beach had grown to such an extent that it became a serious problem, harming the environment and the health of the population, and urgently needed to be addressed.
From Problem to Solution
Usthi had the opportunity to discuss the problem with representatives from Eawag / ETH, and as a result, the two organizations decided to launch a joint project aimed at sustainably improving the waste situation in Penthakata.
Together with Eawag, Usthi’s local partner organization in Penthakata, and an Indian waste management expert, the project was set up and entered a pilot phase in 2024. In discussions with residents of the settlement, the current problems were analyzed in more detail, and the volume of waste was determined through surveys. Volunteers collected waste on the beach, and a new system for waste separation and collection was introduced in parts of the Penthakata settlement.
Improving the situation, however, required not only technical solutions but also greater awareness. That is why teachers received training on integrating the topic of waste management into their lessons. Schoolchildren took part in waste collection campaigns, and a textbook on waste recycling and environmental responsibility was created, which is now being used in lessons at the Penthakata school.
Handover to the City Administration
It is a success for Usthi that, after a successful setup and pilot phase, the project could be handed over to the City of Puri in February 2026. Going forward, the city will independently continue waste management across the entire Penthakata settlement. Alongside Usthi founder Kurt Bürki, Swiss Ambassador Maya Tissafi was also present at the formal handover ceremony.
Our commitment to good waste management also continues: Usthi is responsible for implementing this topic in lessons at all schools in Penthakata. Workshops with teachers from additional schools are intended to enable them to incorporate the topic of waste management into their teaching going forward. In this way, awareness of the risks of uncontrolled waste, as well as the potential of recycling, can be sustainably strengthened in the younger generation.
Sustainable Waste Management – Now and in the Future
Thanks to the good cooperation among all those involved, the project was successfully implemented and handed over to the Puri city administration. The setup and organization of waste separation, collection, and processing have been designed so that they can be understood and carried out by the local population. This is an important prerequisite for keeping the waste situation manageable in the future as well.
The video offers insight into this broad-based project and shows where waste management begins in order to improve hygiene and health conditions.
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