The Hindu 29.04.2013
Pilot project on source segregation of waste
A pilot project on solid waste management focussing on
segregation of waste at the source has been launched at Mettupalayam
Municipality, one of the nine chosen across the country for getting
assistance under Central Government’s National Urban Sanitation Policy.
The
local body has purchased 33 dumper blazer dustbins and 35 push carts
for this project, which were pressed into service on Thursday (April
25).
According to Municipality Chairman D. Satheesh
Kumar, initially the project would be taken up in six wards, of the
total 33, where the solid waste would be segregated during the
house-to-house collection. The Municipality generated a total of 35
tonnes of solid waste per day.
“A public awareness
campaign would be taken up on source segregation. A Rs. 1
crore-bio-methenisation plant, which would generate power from waste,
was sanctioned recently for Mettupalayam. It requires, per day, between
three and five tonnes of waste such fruits, vegetables and other kitchen
waste.”
The electricity generated from this project
would be used to power the street lights, which would save nearly Rs. 4
lakh in electricity charges every month.
The local body had tied up with Exnora and Water Aid to undertake this project as part of the City Sanitation Plan.
Exnora
had conducted a study on waste generation in Mettupalayam over the past
year and had presented its preliminary findings during a City Task
Force on Thursday.
A detailed report would be
submitted in two months. Mr. Satheesh Kumar said that they would scale
up the project to cover the entire Municipality in two months.
