The Indian Express              16.07.2013

BMC to start collecting segregated waste from March 2014

Besides, at the general body meeting Monday, the administration
revealed that the technology to treat the dry and wet garbage separately
would be made available only by March 2015.

The city generates 9,000-10,000 tonnes of waste daily, of which
around 7,000 tonnes is municipal solid waste (MSW). The rest includes 10
tonnes of biomedical waste.

Additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said, “Our
micro-plan for waste-segregation should be in place by March 2014. This
will ensure door-to-door collection of dry and wet garbage separately –
this is expected to reduce the amount of municipal solid waste going to
the dumping grounds by as much as 50 per cent. The dry waste will go to
recycling treatment plants.”

“We have already issued an expression of interest for starting
waste-to-energy plants at two dumping grounds. We expect the waste
treatment plants for both dry and wet garbage to be ready by March
2015,” she added.

Around 70 per cent of the solid waste management operations are
handled by nine private contractors. BMC handles the rest. The
contractors are responsible for collection, transportation and disposal
at the three dumping grounds. The contract includes acquiring the Bharat
Euro IV garbage compactors. Thirty per cent of the compactors are yet
to arrive in Mumbai.

“While some vehicles are expected in September, the full fleet
should be in by October. We have penalised contractors where collection
has been a problem. We have asked ward officers to arrange for
alternatives and ensure 100 per cent collection despite the shortage of
vehicles,” said Mhaiskar.

Shiv Sena corporator and leader of the house, Yashodhar Phanse of
the K-West ward, where contractors have been penalised, said,
“Effective solid waste management depends on the will of BMC. If the
corporation works hard, it is possible to see the plan come to life.”

SP corporator from L ward Saida Khan, who had raised the issue at the
meeting, said, “BMC proposed these plans when the MSW rules were formed
in 2000. All these, just like the micro-plan, appear feasible on paper,
but ALMs can help manage the problem at its root, and address local
issues in waste management,” said Khan.