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Solid Waste Management

Waste disposal top priority: Kottayam municipal chief

Thursday, 11 November 2010 06:15 administrator
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The Hindu  11.11.2010

Waste disposal top priority: Kottayam municipal chief

Staff Reporter

New chairman Sunny Kalloor addresses the media


ISSUES OF CONCERN: Municipal chairmanSunny Kalloor addressing a press conferencein Kottayam on Wednesday.

KOTTAYAM: Kottayam Municipal chairman Sunny Kalloor has promised that he would take immediate steps to resolve the waste management crisis in the district.

At a press conference here on Wednesday after his election to the post. Mr. Kalloor said that the waste management issue would be given top priority during his term. “In recent times, the district has seen unchecked waste accumulation. Unscientific practices such as non-segregation of waste have been adopted. The discomfort faced by residents, especially those residing near the Vadavathoor dumping yard has reached alarming proportions. A solution to the issue is needed to prevent the district from turning into a dumpyard,” he said.

“The Municipality will ensure that a solution is found within 100 days. An emergency meeting of the councillors will be called to discuss the issue. A preliminary survey of waste will be conducted in all 52 wards of the district,” he explained. Mr. Kalloor stressed on the measures that would be taken for tackling the issue. “We intend to set-up bio-gas plants in every ward. Various private associations and voluntary groups will be encouraged to finance the project. The Municipality would give the funding for such plants in places like markets,” he said.

Corruption will not be tolerated, he said.

He listed out the other sectors that would be addressed during the next five years. “Scarcity of drinking water has been an area of concern during recent times. The municipality will submit proposals to the Water Resources Minister in order to introduce a scheme for providing drinking water to all parts of the district,” he said. “Various traditional sectors will be revived. Dairy farming will be encouraged. Proper use of natural resources like fisheries and paddy fields shall be promoted,” he said.

Last Updated on Thursday, 11 November 2010 06:19
 

Segregate at source, keep them separate

Wednesday, 10 November 2010 05:36 administrator
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The Deccan Chronicle  10.11.2010

Segregate at source, keep them separate

Members of the Solid Waste Management Round Table demonstrated how all wet waste, which includes the food we throw away in our own homes, can be composted and how we try not only to segregate the dry waste but also further separate the paper, plastic, glass, metal and e-waste, to a two-member delegation from San Francisco recently.

Present were Robert Haley, recycling pogramme manager, department of environment in the city and county of San Fransisco and Tamar Hurwitz, environmental education manager of the San Francisco city council.

If the BBMP wants to introduce a user fee it needs to first inform the people that they must segregate their waste into dry and wet at source and arrange for picking up each kind of garbage separately. The wet garbage can be composted or converted into biogas locally.

This will save lots of fuel that is currently being used to transport the huge amounts of garbage to the landfills. We from the Solid Waste Management Round Table have been lobbying for each ward to be awarded a different contract for waste collection and recycling.

If every ward has a dry waste collection centre people will also be able to make money from the plastic and paper that they hand over to it, leading to a win-win situation for both BBMP and Bengalureans.

(The writer is member, Solid Waste Management Round Table)

Last Updated on Wednesday, 10 November 2010 05:40
 

Direction to officials on solid waste rules

Tuesday, 09 November 2010 10:40 administrator
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The Hindu  09.11.2010

Direction to officials on solid waste rules

Staff Correspondent

MYSORE: The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has issued directions to the deputy commissioners to ensure that all local bodies coming under their jurisdictions comply with the provisions of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Rules, 2000.

Board Chairman A.S. Sadashivaiah has written to the deputy commissioners in this regard, sources in KSPCB told The Hindu.

The directions have been issued at a time when the Supreme Court has asked State Boards to file affidavits on the delay of some local bodies in identifying land for the disposal of municipal solid waste.

“The unscientific disposal of MSW affects public health, causes ground water pollution, soil pollution and spreads infectious diseases. The matter is of serious nature and needs urgent attention. Any delay or negligence in implementing the MSW rules will definitely affect public health,” says the Chairman in his notice to the Deputy Commissioner of Mandya, a copy of which is available with The Hindu.

Mr. Sadashivaiah states that the Lok Adalat has taken a serious view of the matter as most local bodies in the State have not implemented the MSW rules within the time schedule of December 31, 2003, as specified.

According to the Board, the district magistrates or the deputy commissioners of the concerned districts have the overall responsibility of enforcing the rules, while the board has been empowered to monitor the compliance of the standards prescribed.

For example, in Mandya district, the board has reviewed the progress and found that the commissioning of landfill sites has not been done in the town municipal councils and taluk panchayats of K.R. Pet, Maddur, Malavalli, Nagamangala, Pandavapura and Srirangapatna. The Deputy Commissioner has been directed to respond within 30 days.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 November 2010 10:42
 
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