The Times of India 04.03.2013
Kochi corporation can't smell that stink
KOCHI: While a
Vilappilsala like confrontation is building up over waste disposal at
Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant, it seems the Kochi corporation
has decided to sleep over the crisis.
Recently, the residents of Vadavukodu-Puthencruz panchayats gave a three-month deadline for the civic body to come up with an alternative system to dispose plastic waste generated in the city and threatened them with closure. Though there are viable options available, according to experts, the civic body is unwilling to explore these possibilities and planning to continue the practice of dumping waste at Brahmapuram.
Waste management experts, who have studied the crisis in the city, contend that the local body has overlooked the need for scientific segregation of waste. Though academic institutions have offered help in training Kudumbasree workers to segregate plastic, based on its significance and economic value, the corporation has not responded to such initiatives. According to experts, the civic body should be able to bring in agencies that collect plastic at a mutually agreed price. This method will save the corporation from the troubles of transporting and dumping plastic at Brahmapuram.
"Many industries functioning within the state and neighbouring states require plastic as raw material. There are private agencies engaged in collection of segregated plastic, and local bodies should make use of this facility," said V Shivanandan Achari, assistant professor, department of environmental studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).
Municipalities such as Maradu have been following this system for the last one year. The local body has 33 divisions and they have clubbed three divisions to form a unit.
Kudumbasree workers are given 11 tricycles. Workers in each unit collect plastic waste from houses and other establishments. "They bring the waste to an enclosure where it is further segregated and sold to a private agency which takes the plastic to various industrial units in Tamil Nadu," said T K Devarajan, chairman, Maradu municipality.
Explaining the flip side of the system, he said that if the agency did not turn up to collect waste, it would adversely affect waste collection and disposal in the municipality.
"Though this method has been successful since its implementation in May 2012, for the last one week the agency has not collected plastic. Now, we have to sort out the issue," he added.
Recently, the residents of Vadavukodu-Puthencruz panchayats gave a three-month deadline for the civic body to come up with an alternative system to dispose plastic waste generated in the city and threatened them with closure. Though there are viable options available, according to experts, the civic body is unwilling to explore these possibilities and planning to continue the practice of dumping waste at Brahmapuram.
Waste management experts, who have studied the crisis in the city, contend that the local body has overlooked the need for scientific segregation of waste. Though academic institutions have offered help in training Kudumbasree workers to segregate plastic, based on its significance and economic value, the corporation has not responded to such initiatives. According to experts, the civic body should be able to bring in agencies that collect plastic at a mutually agreed price. This method will save the corporation from the troubles of transporting and dumping plastic at Brahmapuram.
"Many industries functioning within the state and neighbouring states require plastic as raw material. There are private agencies engaged in collection of segregated plastic, and local bodies should make use of this facility," said V Shivanandan Achari, assistant professor, department of environmental studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).
Municipalities such as Maradu have been following this system for the last one year. The local body has 33 divisions and they have clubbed three divisions to form a unit.
Kudumbasree workers are given 11 tricycles. Workers in each unit collect plastic waste from houses and other establishments. "They bring the waste to an enclosure where it is further segregated and sold to a private agency which takes the plastic to various industrial units in Tamil Nadu," said T K Devarajan, chairman, Maradu municipality.
Explaining the flip side of the system, he said that if the agency did not turn up to collect waste, it would adversely affect waste collection and disposal in the municipality.
"Though this method has been successful since its implementation in May 2012, for the last one week the agency has not collected plastic. Now, we have to sort out the issue," he added.
