Corporation wants zero-waste

Searching for a solution to the city’s mounting garbage problems, Greater Chennai Corporation has started experimenting with source segregation in various pockets of the metropolis. Apart from training the sanitation staff and conservancy workers, resident welfare associations too have been roped in to create ‘zero waste model wards’. 

Four months ago, Manali (Division 20) had 28 garbage bins on the streets. Today, after the introduction of source segregation, the number of bins on the streets reduced to eight, with no complaints of litter on the street by the residents. The game plan focussed on creating awareness among the tricycle conservancy workers, who went doorto-door to collect waste. Within four months, the results were evident. Apart from the reduction in the number of bins, one of the two compactors used in the division were surrendered, as the amount of garbage sent to the dump yards reduced. 

After this successful start, all seven zones in Manali and seven zones out of 12 zones in Madhavaram have started following this practice. The journey was not easy, said Praveen P Nair, Regional Deputy Commissioner (North). 

“We started with the residents and demonstrated that source segregation is not as hard as it is perceived. It is merely a matter of putting the waste in different bins (dry and organic). Then, we created awareness among our workers as well as residents. They started with Division 20, which generates around six tonnes of garbage, and we are hoping to make it a model zero garbage division ,” he said. 

The tricycle collectors were told that unsegregated waste won’t be accepted. While 30% of the houses are giving segregated waste, 70% are still not doing it, said the official. The waste collected is segregated by a dedicated workforce. “The organic waste goes into the four Corporation-run compost yards in Manali and Madhavaram, which we have revived. Some are traditional composting pits while others are a combination with vermi-composting. The advantage of the combination composting is that we can finish a batch in 30 days, instead of the usual 60 days. The compost is sold through our divisional offices for Rs 12-15, depending on the quality. Since agriculture activity still happens in some of these fringes, farmers come to the yard and buy it in bulk,” said Nair. 

While the quantum of work has increased for the conservancy workers, Nair added that the staff are also aware that the amount of garbage will only increase in the future. “Unless we go from mere waste collection to waste management, it will not be sustainable. People at the lowest level are realising that. Our aim is to get every household to start source segregation,” added Nair.

There is also an effort to rope in rag pickers to aid with the segregation, said Nair, adding that a cost analysis of the entire system will be done to determine the savings on energy and resources. In Zones 6 to 10, source segregation has started on an experimental basis, said Dr. Subodh Kumar, Regional Deputy Commissioner (Central). “Two wards in each zone have been selected to do intensive source segregation. Currently, 500 to 1,000 houses in each zone are into source segregation. Our target is to eventually increase the number of houses,” he said. 

The Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) have been roped in to achieve this. “Harrington Road (Zone 7) is our model zone and we have worked with the RWAs to get residents to start source segregation. In Ambattur area too, we are getting a good response,” added Dr Subodh.