Garbage free city

Mumbai has been facing a solid waste management crisis for years. In order to move towards a sustainable future by adopting integrated solid waste management approach, the Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has joined hands with private contractors. The municipal corporation spends roughly र1160 per tonne on collection, transport and disposal of MSW. Collection and transport together constitute roughly 80% of the cost. In India, the average municipal expenditure on solid waste management is र500 to र1500 per tonne. B P Patil, Chief Engineer-SWM, MCGM, explains to Preeti Swaminathan the various projects lined up for integrated SWM.