Mon Sep 22 04:55:04 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**Chennai Residents Battle Waste Management Woes: A Struggle for Sustainability**

**Chennai, September 22, 2025 (The Hindu) -** In the rapidly developing OMR area of Chennai, a battle is being waged not with weapons, but with waste. Residents like Shefali Ganesh in Thalambur face an uphill struggle to implement effective waste segregation and recycling programs within their gated communities. Despite her persistent efforts to educate neighbors and participate in external drives, Shefali grapples with resident turnover and lack of community-wide commitment.

The challenges are systemic, as highlighted by Bhuvana Raj, co-founder of SIMPLE (Sustainability Improvement through Multiple Projects for a Lovelier Environment). While the Chengalpattu district administration mandates bulk waste generators to manage their waste, a lack of empanelled vendors leads communities to rely on unauthorized aggregators with questionable disposal practices. Furthermore, resident associations often lack the widespread buy-in needed to incentivize recyclers, hindering sustainable waste management.

However, amidst these challenges, sparks of hope emerge. SIMPLE is spearheading a “green coalition” to empower residents to drive waste management pro bono. Quarterly dry waste collection drives, involving multiple communities, are gaining momentum. These initiatives, coupled with the efforts of organizations like Residents of Kasturbanagar Association (ROKA), are demonstrating the power of collaboration.

ROKA’s recent dry waste collection drive, spanned ten centres and managed to collect 10.6 metric tonnes of dry waste. Volunteers from different colleges contributed greatly to the success of the event.

The success of these initiatives hinges on collective action and education. Janani Venkitesh of ROKA emphasizes the mutual benefits of such events, noting that they educate participants about conscious consumption.

As Chennai continues to grow, these community-led initiatives are becoming crucial in creating a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.

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