PUNE, Oct 17: Solid waste disposal is a matter occupying environmentalists all over the world. The twin cities of Bremen in Germany and Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad were engaged in this very exercise at the workshop for the development of a `Strategy For a Solid Waste Management Master Plan'. The workshop, organised by the International Office Agenda 21 recently, sought to identify the varieties of waste, their features, disposal problems, solutions to the problems and preparing a master plan for handling solid waste.``The objective of the workshop,'' says Dr. K Nagkumar, senior medical officer, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), ``was to train the generators of waste, those responsible for its disposal and the general public.''
Waste management which is a matter of community consequence can be a success only if the following conditions are fulfilled, says Nagkumar:
Employees devotion - the staff of the sanitation and health department put in more than their official hours. * Public awareness - the people of Pimpri-Chinchwad have been educated on the need for community hygiene through cleanliness campaigns, which are conducted on a regular basis involving all sections of the society - students, professionals, servicemen, businessmen, housewives.Public participation and part privatisation - to enable public participation, the corporation has identified waste generators - hotels, hospitals, markets and held them responsible for segregating waste at source into biodegradable and non-biodegradable, hazardous and non-hazardous waste.At the garbage dumps at Mulshi and Chikli, private parties have been handed over the rights of vermiculture projects.
Administrative charges - non-compliance with the guidelines is penalised with administrative charges (a term used for `fines'). All the health and sanitary inspectors have been given policing rights and can impose administrative charges on a defaulter.``The PCMC is also credited with innovative environmental protection measures,'' says Nagkumar. ``Under the guidance of Additional Municipal Commissioner R B Konde, the concept of `garbage-containerless ward' has been implemented in one of the wards and will gradually be introduced in other wards.''
``Almitra Patel, the noted environmentalist who visited Pimpri-Chinchwad appreciated our efforts. She also identified a few areas where improvements are necessary,'' he says. ``The fringe villages incorporated within the corporation limits have to be dealt with regarding waste management and disposal.''
``There is a need for change in the rules of local bodies/ state government vis-a-vis waste management,'' he feels. ``It should be mandatory on every citizen to keep the city clean and green.''
Findings and recommendations
Some of the findings and recommendations of the workshop which was attended by employees of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and PCMC and staff of CDG, a German government organisation:
Community participation - more detailed exchange of ideas, methods and suggestions from other municipalities.
Community education
Sorting the waste at source.Pollution control
Stop using pesticides at dustbin and dumpsites
Make environment healthy
Have clear and better ways of solid waste management consistent with environmental pattern
Stop burning of waste in streets
Environmentally friendly disposalFinances
Economical ways and means with local conditions
Get economical solutions for solid waste disposal like composting
The best and economical method of disposal of municipal solid wasteNon-biodegradable waste
Start immediate biotreatment of garbage
To get the information about the technology to improve the existing solid waste management system
Right technology for disposal of waste
To collect garbage and dispose it properly
How the random dumping can be reorganised and can be used for landscaping
Whether MSW can be used for beautification of the cityHow to dispose industrial waste
Industry responsibility: Industrial waste; iron scrap; waste oil; chemical waste; solvents
Community responsibility
A) non-biodegradable waste - road sweeping dirt, silt from open drains, debris,radioactive waste B) Biodegradable waste - hospital waste, garden waste, market waste, stable waste, slaughterhouse waste, sludge from septic tanks, sludge from sewage, dead animals.
Recycling - package waste, waste oil (private), radios/TV, batteries, refrigerators.
Hospital waste:
Legislation for improper disposal provision of common incinerators
Cancellation of registration
Incineration installed - area wise - at specific cost from each hospital Imposing fines
Training of hospital staff
Administration on regular basisHotel waste / garden waste / market waste / stable waste:
Segregation of waste at source for hotel waste
Vermiculture composting the biodegradable waste
Marketing of the manure
Awareness among peopleSlaughterhouse waste:
Provision of carcass utilisation plant
Collection of blood after the animals are slaughteredPossible solutions:
Segregation of recyclable garbage (non-degradable) at source in all the houses by way of education and legislation
Collection of recyclable garbage from house to house by authorised rag-pickers and PMC employees. Exchange of technology for the proper packaging and recycling in a cost-effective way
Objectives:
Objective: Interdepartmental coordination between PMC and PCMC
* Create separate cell 10 people staff * Representative of each department - MSEB, telecom, water supply... * Register of works to be undertaken * Issue the NOC (no objection certificate) * Time management as per tender norms * Keep vigilance by staff * Penalty on the delay and default for time period
Objective: Public education and punishment
* School children to be educated twice per week * Child and family education * NSS, 30 colleges * Youth club (900 youths) * Mahila mandal (300 women) * NGOs activities * Senior citizens * Facilities, bins and handcarts * Use of media.
Objective: Segregation of recyclable garbage (non-degradable) at source in all the houses by way of education and legislation.
* Involvement of local NGO's and through media * Educating citizens through schools and public meetings * Incentives and health competitions * Enforced legislation * Creation of collection centres for recyclable waste * Organise collecting systems with trading.
Objectives:
Vermiculture composting of biodegradable waste
* Creation of sites wherever possible * Individual bungalows, apartments, co-operative societies * At least 30% of the population 190 tons/day * PMC parks, schools, offices etc. 50 tons/day * 100 tons/day at four sites at different locations * major composting and vermicomposting project on dumping sites.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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