Garbage In, Garden Out

Enlightened people do feel responsible and separate the paper, plastic, and glass in their trash. Many of us don't. More than 63 million tons of US recyclables end up in landfills every year. Global Renewables might be able to shrink that number. The Australia-based company built a facility in Sydney that combines every trash-sorting technology imaginable — wind sifters, optical scanners, magnets, electrical currents. It diverts 75 percent of the city's waste stream to recycling, conserving landfill space and cutting down on greenhouse gases. Rotting garbage gives off methane, so less landfill equals less climatic apocalypse. On the strength of its Sydney plant, Global Renewables just got $627 million to construct two similar facilities in the UK. Here's how they separate the treasure from the trash. 

An Illustration by Sonia Zjawinski

Hazardous Waste Rules for India

Compiled Brief Report on Scribd.com.

Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2003 is an amendment notified under the Environment (Protection) Act of India by the Ministry of Environment and Forest.Although it was first notified in the year 1989 but in 2000 and 2003 major amendments in these rules were made with regard to the international environmental laws. These rules have been amended as the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Amendment Rules,2003.

 The authorities who are responsible for the defining rules and implementation are :

1. Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)
2. Central Pollution Control Board
3. State Govt./ Union Territory Govt./Administration
4. State Pollution Control Boards

and for granting license for import and export of hazardous wastes :

• Directorate General of Foreign Trade constituted under the Foreign Trade 
• Port Authority under Indian Ports Act

The 2003 amendment has clearly defined and categorized hazardous wastes. One can even differentiate between industrial hazardous and non-hazardous waste. It contains 36 industrial processes and their waste streams. It is mandatory for industries to refine/recycle/dispose hazardous waste with registered refiners/recyclers/registered incinerators.  

The regulations for import and export of  hazardous waste has been carefully laid down and brought in line with the Basel Convention. Basel Convention is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries (LDC). The Convention also intends to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated, ensures their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation, and assists LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate.

Concentration limits of hazardous wastes are set for the industries to obey for a better management and handling. As India, like other developing countries is striving to manage its waste inside its boundary, the amendment has clearly listed the wastes which should be recycled with the registered recyclers.
Used and Waste oil has been added as hazardous waste and been listed in wastes that needs to be recycled. 

 *******Please find the compiled brief report on Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Amendment Rules,2003 with the lists of Hazardous wastes at SCRIBD.com . It carries basic information just to get an overview on the given regulation.

*****The compiled report does not contain any legal information, therefore please refer to http://moef.nic.in/index.php     for detailed specifications about the given regulation.

Is Orgainx Shampoo Greenwashed ?

Today, the industry has realized that there are no longer 'consumers'...they are the citizens. But realizing it doesn't end the array of misleading products that once were visual treats but now are threats. Many companies have put on a green veil so that their intentions can still workout to their profits without changing their acts.

I was searching for companies and products which are indulging in greenwashing and misleading the consumers. I found many of them on the internet, but when I searched for products inside my house I found this  beatific, white,  plump  shampoo bottle. 

Organix, a company which sells a range of hair products at a competitive price and rejoices the fame of being one of organic products on the shelf.

The impeccant graphic layout and the packaging design does help it in standing- out amongst the other products. It started out with free trials and was liked by most of the people as it was Sulphate and Paraben Free. These chemicals help in lathering, so if Organix doesnot have it then there are chances that the shampoo contains other chemicals to substitute it. I tried to determine the toxicity of the ingredients but found that the chemicals are low - medium - high hazardous depending upon their percentage.


The bottle and the labels are eco friendly. The bottle is made up of recyclable plastic type2 HDPE and the labels are printed utilizing environmental inks and the compostable label film is made from renewable resource - corn, not petrochemicals. There are not many products you would find with the details of its packaging below the 'directions for use'.

Now, the product does sound honest in the following categories:
- Sulfate and Paraben Free
- Use of Recyclable Material

But, to me, the ingredients are keeping me away from understanding the 'organic' properties of this shampoo.

One may assume organic coconut milk  to be the main ingredient or the main working ingredient but there is no proof and coconut is the 14th or the 15th ingredient. So, are the chemicals organic? Is it safe for the ecosystem?

If you would like to trust this source - http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product/235873/Organix_Nourishing_Coconut_Milk_Shampoo/  you will find Organix to be moderately hazardous and there is 81% data gap (which means some ingredients may appear to have low hazards, but this may be due to the fact that they have not have been studied or assessed completely. Other ingredients may appear to have low hazards and have been thoroughly studied or assessed. This score helps differentiate between ingredients and products that have been studied to different degrees) Few of the ingredients are associated with cancer and allergies. Compare the product with California Baby Shampoo
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=263251 and you will find the difference.

The site, http://www.organixhair.com, does not provide any evidence of its authenticity. A product which claims to be organic can very well advertise its manufacturing processes and ingredients for the awareness of its customers.

I am still looking forward to data which can  wrong me and prove that Organix is organic because I appreciate its packaging and the fact that it works well for my hair, but not really sure.

I want to start my journey into the world of where there is respect for the world.

I want to observe and absorb a Pure World.

I want to be the part of the tribe which make things better for others while satisfying their soul.

And I hope I am not very late !

the frank.. FRANKIE

MY INTERPRETATION of the story:

'The act of mirroring... Frankie did with his baby (doll) .. and there is a shot where Frankie is mirroring Frankie's dad on the bed ...
well... in the last scene.. Frankie mirrors his Father's act as well... Leaves his baby for the new wheels got by his friends.

Thats Frankie.. a mirror of his dad.

Frankie is a retard but 'mirrors don't lie'...not even for a person who never realizes what the reality is.'

What do you think?

New Boy

NewBoy, a short feature film with the power of evoking the deepest emotion in a person...pure innocence.

I bet..... by the end of the video..you would feel the same. A smile and a tear together.

my Mother-in-LUV

Thats her name on the top left corner of the pic 'LALITA PATRO'.

A splash of coolness and a misty mischievousness surrounds her personality. A childlike freshness and a wise intellect can make anybody comfortable. These are few things I have learnt from my Mother-in-law and I have fallen in love with her. I wondered and my heart gave a sunny smile when I saw her dancing to the old bollywood and oriya film songs.

After almost a year of my marriage I got an opportunity to spend few days with her. Although my heart had assured me of a pleasant time but still was pounding a little bit. My mother-in-law is a High School principal, and that explains why I was a bit anxious. My anxiousness melted away when I saw her waiting for me at her school. I was fervid to embrace her in my arms and give her a kiss on her cheek. I was eagerly awaiting these few days.

I want her to be in high spirits always.