The Hindu 17.02.2014
Evolve long-term strategy to segregate waste at doorsteps: Forum
The solid waste management will be more effective in longer run only if the City Municipal Corporation effectively implements the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 that prevent from using plastic carry bags and plastic items less than 40 microns in thickness in the city, members of the Salem Citizens Forum said here recently.
Addressing reporters, its convener Piyush Manush said that non-functioning of the private solid waste treatment plant at Chettichavadi had led to dumping of garbage in the inert pit resulting in the depletion and pollution of ground water in the area. He called upon the corporation and the district administration to evolve a long-term strategy, including implementing the plastic waste management rules, creating awareness among the people to segregate waste at their doorsteps itself. The organic waste accounts for one-third of the total waste generated everyday. Bio gas units, paper cycling plants should be setup by small entrepreneurs so that the corporation could earn revenue by selling waste, he added.
He also wanted prohibition of building debris and bio medical waste dumped on roadsides and instead a tractor operator could be assigned the job and collect the fee from the owners respectively. Also, the 1,200 sanitary workers should be empowered to fine the violators if waste is dumped on roadsides, the convener said.
Raising his voice against the corporation’s move to establish an inert pit near the company at a cost of Rs. 70 lakh, the environmentalist said that the proposed pit comes near the forest land that violates rules and said inert pit is only to dump processed waste.
