BMC to pvt firms: Set-up waste treatment plants
New plan will help reduce overuse of city’s only dumping ground and improve garbage disposal system
New plan will help reduce overuse of city’s only dumping ground and improve garbage disposal system
After facing flak over poor management of the recently launched zero-garbage drive, the civic body is trying hard to find new methods to improve the garbage collection and disposal system. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sought participation of big public and private companies, corporates, five star hotels and housing societies to start their own garbage treatment plants to help it avoid the overuse of its dumping grounds. Currently, the civic body has only one dumping ground at Deonar as other three at Chincholi Bandar, Gorai and Mulund had to be shut. While the one at Chincholi Bunder had to be shut due to overload, the other two had to be closed as part of the scientific landfill site project.
The city generates about 6,800 metric tonnes of garbage daily, excluding construction debris, which is about 2,000 tonnes.
The daily quantum of degradable food waste generated by corporates, hotels, clubs and housing societies is more than 550 metric tonnes and it can be treated at the place of origin.
“We have asked private firms to set up their own garbage treatment plants but this is just a request and not binding according to the law,” said Mohan Adtani, additional municipal commissioner.
On an average, big companies such as petrochemical companies generate approximately three to five tonnes of garbage daily.
If private bodies build their separate treatment plants, it may considerably reduce the load on civic body’s dumping grounds.
It will also create a good example for others to take up a similar activity, according to the civic solid waste management (SWM) department study. The department hopes that it may help the civic body in the long run.
“We would need just 200-250 such entities to make a difference so that the waste can be dispose of at the point where it is being generated,” said Bhalchandra Patil, chief engineer, SWM department.
The BMC is also aware of the fact that hotels in the city generate mostly food waste, ideal for treatment plants, but they may not have enough space for it. “However, big societies in Kandivli or Powai with about 4,000-5,000 people are bound to generate a lot of food waste and can start their own treatment plants to get rid of it,” Patil added.
The zero-garbage campaign that was announced on October 1 has not achieved its desired objectives. The core of the issue is the fast decreasing garbage treatment space for the BMC.