A Green Janmastami celebration – Zero Waste drive – ISKCON Auckland, NZ
Janmastami 2019 was extra special in ISKCON, Auckland NZ!
The temple, under the leadership of its President, HG Kalasamvara Prabhu, decided to undertake a zero-waste drive for Sri Janmastami and Prabhupada Jayanti 2019. A laudable initiative in service of Mother Earth – beloved of Krsna.
The festivals, this year, fell on a weekend, which meant there would be literally several thousands of visitors and guests. Being reputed in Auckland for its hospitality and receiving and serving guests, plans were made for tons of prasadam to be cooked inhouse and served out to our visitors on these auspicious days. Tons of prasadam meant heaps of green and other waste that would go towards the landfill.
When food waste and compostable items are sent to landfill, they generate methane, a noxious gas which contributes to global warming, destruction of the environment and the perishing of many plant and animal species. Moreover, items that can be recycled and reused are wasted as they end up in landfill.
For the first time, the temple’s leadership decided to take the difficult path of sorting the waste so not everything would go to landfill. We had advisors from the local city council visiting the premises and advising on what could be done and also engaged the services of a local event waste management company.
All the devotees that were engaged in purchasing, cooking and serving also enthusiastically took up the cause and did their best to sort the rubbish generated at source. Everybody took up the responsibility of playing their part in cutting down waste. Only compostable plates and cutlery were used to serve the guests.
In fact, this very first attempt was so successful, that a massive 86% of the waste was saved from ending up in landfill. More than half (56%) of the rubbish generated went to make compost, thus enriching this earth to generate more food grains and vegetables which can be offered to Krishna. A significant, 29% of rubbish, was sent to be recycled to make other useful products.
A big Thank You to all the devotees and guests that made this first attempt a huge success!
Sri Sri Radha Giridhari Ji ki Jai. Sri Bhoomidevi ki Jai.