[box type=”shadow” ]Bangalore generates about 3,500-4,000 tonnes of waste (40-45% wet and the remaining 60% dry and mixed waste) each day. With 189 dry waste collection centres, systematic collection, transportation and processing, Bangalore is making great strides in SWM, recycling and composting. Sarfaraz Khan Sardar, Joint Commissioner (Health & SWM), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the face behind Bengaluru ‘s SWM measures, shares his initiatives along with tips and tricks in an interview with Vijayalakshmi Sridhar[/box]
The Processes involved in daily waste collection and disposal
There are black spots where irresponsibly dumped garbage is accumulated. These could be from bulk generators who have not tied up with the empanelled contractors; people who work at odd hours and miss the door-step collectors or the simply insensitive and irresponsible citizens. In order to streamline this, we have installed CCTV cameras in those spots and with consistent efforts we keep eliminating them.
Everyday after 11.30am, following the free lunch, the pourakarmikas return to the fields, form teams of four to five members to trim the trees in the public landscape and also collect traditional garbage, if any, before winding work by 2pm. This process has brought accountability into the system. Also each auto is numbered and tracked, failing which RWAs send an alert.
We have also passed an order that anybody not collecting 50% of the segregated waste will face15% cut in the contract fee. In fact, from January 1,2017, only wet waste will be collected from the households. Also for bulk generators, we have made it compulsory to tie up with authorised contractors or with service providers having digestors or maintenance provision.
Yelahanka has successfully impleted this process. It collects 90-95% segregated waste and has eliminated black spots completely. The larger apartments are composting their wet waste and segregating plastic waste and selling it to the contractors. Specifically, ward no 111- Shanthala Nagar collects 98% segregated waste using this micro plan.
The Challenges in the system and steps taken to handle them
We are tighteneing the system, computerising it and the autorickshaws are given going to be on biometric attendance and GPS tracking. Further, to make it more systematic, we are appointing retired marshals or military servicemen, one in each ward, to become the civic warriors. They will oversee the operation from both sides – fine those who are not segregating and report about the officers who are not doing their job well. The plan has gone for approval and the marshals will be on a uniformed and paid service.
The next step would be procurement of our own compactors and mechanised sweepers that can be truck mounted for use on main roads and operated on two shifts depending on the traffic density. There will be one for each of the eight zones in the city.
Issues faced in waste processing
Bangalore has seven processing plants, with two exclusively for wet waste. The other plants take mixed waste. During the process of composting, the local villagers protest over the smell emanating from these plants. For now, we are running the plant on reduced volumes. Besides composting, the quarry pits are being used for garbage dumping. We are composting and making green spaces. In Bommanahalli, a stadium is coming up on the landfill.
Upgrades being planned
The primary collection vehicles are badly maintained. We are planning to go in for the GPS tracked ones that are so modelled as to be easily tipped into the lorries. Further, Bangalore being a binless city, there are places with heavy footfall or the slum areas where people litter on the road. On a pilot basis, we want to install underground bins that cost about `500,000 per unit and can take 1.5 tonnes of garbage. There will be one each for wet and dry waste, will be manned and fitted with the mechanism to be loaded into the lorry.
We are aiming to establish a different system of transfer station which will comprise a customised structure with built-in features that unloads the waste into a hopper, then the compaction equipment, and finally, hooks the loader into the truck. The only challenge is the space for this operation. We need an acre of land to establish one in each assembly constituency.
There are two to three appointed RWAs and four to five people in each ward with whom we correspond through a Bangalore eco group on Whatsapp. All the issues are brought to my attention and action is taken.
Trouble-shooting initiatives you have launched
We have put together some first-time initiatives for festivals management. In the markets areas, we have put up instructions on collection of waste, transportation location and composting. This applies to the animal waste generated during Bakrid.
Following persistent work during the Ganesha festival, 60% of the idols that were immersed were eco-friendly ones. The pollution control board is also working closely with us in this regard.
Each ward is generating about 1.5 tonnes of recyclable plastic. At present there are no recyclers willing to pick up, as the demand has come down even in the international markets.
Moreover, because of the drought situation locally, there is no demand for compost too. In the worst scenario, we will use the compost in the public parks.
[box type=”shadow” ]The plastic ban introduced in Yelahanka and now a government policy has resulted in a large collection of fines. The plan has always been to educate the public along with a feasible system to work to realise the fruits of it. If 70-80% segregation happens, the entire quantity will go for compost.[/box]
Waste to energy plants in Bangalore
For large waste to energy plants, we seek technical help and call for tenders. At present, there are about six plants and a gassification unit is coming up in Mysore to convert hotel waste into gas. It is managed by a company from Mumbai.
Need of the hour
I have worked in various municipal outfits such as the city municipal council, city corporation, metro corporation and so on. The challenges are similar and know how the system behaves at the ground level. In cities with large population, mechanical intervention is needed for cleaning and issues such as how to control dust comes into the picture.
We are open to any new technology for efficient management of the processing sites and are constantly innovating to handle the day to day challenges. Still we do not have an efficient solution to control the leachate from the waste or converting it into good quality substance. One particular quarry site was left open for the leachate to collect. After a heavy downpour, the whole thing percolated into the garbage and it started smelling. We did our own experiment and put some limestone there and the odour was controlled successfully.
The best way to motivate people
Sensitisation is the best way. They have to be exposed to the multiple sufferings and problems that arise now and in the future, if the waste is not segregated. To successfully implement schemes, there should always be a healthy partnership between elected representatives, beaureucrats and the public.