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.
