Hotels, apartments to set up waste disposal mechanism

The Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 specify, “All resident welfare and market associations, gated communities and institutions with an area of >5,000 sq.m should segregate waste at source -- handing over the valuable dry waste to authorized waste pickers or the authorised recyclers or to the urban local body. 

The bio-degradable waste should be processed, treated and disposed of through composting or bio-methanation within the premises as far as possible.” 

A senior Corporation official told DT Next, “We have addressed the bulk generators and given them two months from October 2 to set up the mechanism to manage the waste generated in their premises. The Corporation will be collecting segregated waste in the interim. 

We have also put these bulk generators in touch with the government-run organisation, specialising in these techniques.” The officials at the zonal levels have been conducting meetings with the bulk generators regarding this. 

As per the data by the Corporation, the city generates 4,500 metric tonnes (MT) of waste every day, which currently is being sent to the dumpyards in Kodungaiyur and Perungudi. Of this, residential units account for 68% of waste generation, while commercial establishments attribute to 16%, halls, schools and other institutions account for 14% and industrial concerns generate 2% of the waste. Dharmesh Shah, waste policy expert, said that this can be a sustainable system. 

“This is based on the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle, which applies to industries, which have to take care of the effluents generated by their operations. Similarly, bulk generators being asked to take care of their solid waste can be a sustainable solution. The Corporation can set up a system in which they can recognise and empanel a tech provider, to manage the waste in the premises. There is technology available like organic waste converter machines,” said the expert. 

The Corporation has also sent out notices to the households, asking them to hand over only segregated waste to the conservancy workers, during the door-to-door collection process from October 2. 

While the dry waste will be disposed through the informal network, the civic body has submitted a Rs 10-crore proposal to the government for setting up compost yards across the city, to tackle the large quantity of wet waste generated in the city.

Amount of waste everyday – 4500 metric tonnes 

Residential units – 68% 

Commercial establishments – 16% 

Institutions such as schools – 14 % 

Industries – 2 %