The Times of India 09.04.2013
Delhi among 9 big plastic generators
NEW DELHI: Delhi is among the largest producers of plastic waste in the country generating over 800 metric tonnes per day. Around 750 metric tonnes reach landfill sites daily of which roughly 80% are plastic bags and packaging materials.
In fact, the capital is among nine cities across India where plastic forms more than 10% of the total waste generated. What makes it more embarrassing for the local government is that plastic bags have been banned in the city since 2009, and not just once but twice.
Central Pollution Control Board data shows that in cities like Shimla and Chandigarh where plastic bags have been banned plastic waste forms less than four percent of municipal solid waste. Other cities where plastic forms more than 10% of the total waste include Faridabad, Ahmedabad, Raipur, Kolkata, Surat and Port Blair.
While accepting that very little has been done to segregate waste in Delhi, the municipal corporations claim the percentage of plastic waste has come down to 2-4% in the past few years.
"We don't have to segregate waste. Before reaching dhalao and other waste pick-up points, the waste needs to be segregated by private concessionaires and ragpickers. However, the percentage of plastic waste has come down to 2-4% from 7-8% till two years ago," Mukesh Yadav, South corporation's spokesperson, said.
However, waste segregation is in its early days. In east Delhi, segregation is taking place in only two of the 64 wards. "At present, no segregation is taking place but we have recently commissioned the work to segregate the waste from two wards to Chintan, an NGO. Our waste-to-energy plant at Ghazipur has been operational since April 1 and we will segregate plastic there which will then be sent to the plastic recycling industry," S S Yadav, commissioner, East Corporation, said.
CPCB officials say that this is not enough. For a city where the plastic bags have been banned since 2009, non-segregation of waste and such high levels of plastic reaching landfill sites is shameful.
"Most of the segregation is done by ragpickers who are an unorganized workforce. Even recycling is done largely in the unorganized sector. Delhi has around 4,000 manufacturing units of which only 200-300 have licences. The rest operate in unauthorized areas and employ more than one lakh people. The failure of the civic agencies to manage plastic waste is evident from the massive pollution that can be seen all around us," a CPCB official said.
In fact, the capital is among nine cities across India where plastic forms more than 10% of the total waste generated. What makes it more embarrassing for the local government is that plastic bags have been banned in the city since 2009, and not just once but twice.
Central Pollution Control Board data shows that in cities like Shimla and Chandigarh where plastic bags have been banned plastic waste forms less than four percent of municipal solid waste. Other cities where plastic forms more than 10% of the total waste include Faridabad, Ahmedabad, Raipur, Kolkata, Surat and Port Blair.
While accepting that very little has been done to segregate waste in Delhi, the municipal corporations claim the percentage of plastic waste has come down to 2-4% in the past few years.
"We don't have to segregate waste. Before reaching dhalao and other waste pick-up points, the waste needs to be segregated by private concessionaires and ragpickers. However, the percentage of plastic waste has come down to 2-4% from 7-8% till two years ago," Mukesh Yadav, South corporation's spokesperson, said.
However, waste segregation is in its early days. In east Delhi, segregation is taking place in only two of the 64 wards. "At present, no segregation is taking place but we have recently commissioned the work to segregate the waste from two wards to Chintan, an NGO. Our waste-to-energy plant at Ghazipur has been operational since April 1 and we will segregate plastic there which will then be sent to the plastic recycling industry," S S Yadav, commissioner, East Corporation, said.
CPCB officials say that this is not enough. For a city where the plastic bags have been banned since 2009, non-segregation of waste and such high levels of plastic reaching landfill sites is shameful.
"Most of the segregation is done by ragpickers who are an unorganized workforce. Even recycling is done largely in the unorganized sector. Delhi has around 4,000 manufacturing units of which only 200-300 have licences. The rest operate in unauthorized areas and employ more than one lakh people. The failure of the civic agencies to manage plastic waste is evident from the massive pollution that can be seen all around us," a CPCB official said.
