Corporation wants bulk waste treated at source

In the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, bulk and institutional generators, market associations, event organisers, hotels and restaurants have been made directly responsible for the segregation and sorting of the waste and managing the same in partnership with local bodies.

As per the rules, “All resident welfare and market associations, gated communities and institution with an area more than 5,000 sqm should segregate waste at source — handing over the valuable dry waste to authorised waste pickers or the authorised recyclers or to the urban local body. The biodegradable waste should be processed, treated and disposed of, through composting or biomethanation within the premises as far as possible.”

A Corporation official said that bulk generators were informed about this rule. “Awareness generation meetings have been conducted for resident welfare associations and bulk waste generators such as gated communities, hotels and institutions. During these meetings, the rule was emphasised,” pointed out the official.

A handful of gated communities and apartment complexes have started managing their solid waste. Arul Priya, a resident of a complex in RA Puram which houses 285 families, said they have been following source segregation since 2013. “We started with dry waste and engaged Earth Recyclers to pick it up. With the help of the Corporation, our association and MRC Nagar Association set up a composting yard, which has grown from three pits to six . On an average, our complex generates 70-80 kg of wet waste per day,” said the entrepreneur.

Arul Priya said that the association is hoping to make the complex a bin-free colony. “Though 75 per cent of the households are following source segregation, the rest of the families do not cooperate. because of which the bin gets filled quickly. We hope that the Corporation enforcement will help us realise the dream of a bin-free colony,” she said.