White trash

The waste management system in India is somewhat different than that to which I had grown accustomed in the United States. Indians generate little trash, and the trash they do accumulate is swept up and kept in a basket out front until it is taken out. There are no trash cans in the village, nor are there garbage trucks or people to operate them. Rather, trash is taken and dumped in one of several spots along the side of the road.

I had initially thought that the extent of waste management was to drop the trash on the side of the road and let the cows and goats munch on it to keep the accummulated amount to a minimum. I had thought this because it wasn't uncommon to see cows and goats nibbling atop these heaps of waste. However, a few days ago I learned that an additional feature of the program is to periodically burn parts of the piles of garbage. It doesn't smell very good burning, FYI. But I must say, it makes more sense than leaving it to the cows and goats to do all the work.

Well, we white folk tend to generate a bit more trash than the village people. It isn't intentional, but since we procure all or our meals at tea stalls, and often request them parcel, we come back with plastic bags, and newspaper wrappings from our food. And then there are the occasional luxury items, namely Cadbury chocolate and bottled water, which are favorites among the students. Well, as we were still learning about the rules of the garbage system, we determined to take our trash to the city where there were dumpsters, so as not to overwhelm the cows and goats. Gwen, on her way to her first day to Shanti Ashram last week, took two heaping bags of trash with her to throw away in Covai. However, when she got to the bus stop, all the young school children recognized the contents of her packages and pointed and laughed and ultimately took the trash and threw it in the bushes. Sad story. Sadder still, Gwen now leave to Covai two hours earlier to take another bus, in part to avoid the mocking children. And she doesn't try to take the trash with her.