The Hindu             19.11.2013

Get Rs. 3 a kg for waste

D. Radhakrishnan

With waste management continuing to be a challenge, the civic administration on Monday extended its support to a new corporate sector initiative.

In an interaction organised by the municipality to familiarise the people with the salient features of the initiative, members of the Udhagamandalam Municipal Council and representatives of various trade bodies participated.

Municipal Commissioner K. Sivakumar said that the scheme will be jointly implemented by the municipality and the India Tobacco Company (ITC) Limited.

The objective was source segregation and recycling. It would keep the town litter-free and help increase the earnings of conservancy workers.

Stating that it was part of the Corporate Social Responsibility activities of the ITC, the company’s manager, Feroze Munshi, said that proper management of dry wastes like paper, card board, soft drink cans, plastic bags and bottles, milk sachets, tooth paste tubes, and chocolate wrappers could protect the environment including the soil.

Udhagamandalam generated about 40 tonnes of waste everyday, he said. Dry recyclable waste accounted for 20 per cent. The company would give Rs. 3 a kg of recyclable waste to conservancy workers. It would be deposited in their bank account. Such a practice was being followed in some other countries and in places like Coimbatore, and Gudalur.

Council Chairman K. Sathyabama welcomed the proposal and urged the people to extend their cooperation.

The objective of the new initiative is in source segregation and recycling of waste.