BMC trash vans to have 10 per cent area for dry, e-waste

Mumbai: To implement the waste segregation scheme more effectively, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to keep a separate section for dry and e-waste in its garbage vehicles. Ten per cent space of every garbage vehicle will now be kept for dry and e-waste apart from the wet trash.

Several corporators complained that though the BMC has been implementing waste segregation in housing societies, it does not have a proper mechanism to ferry the segregated waste to dumping grounds resulting in failure of the scheme.

“In the new contracts invited for seven years for garbage transport compactors, it has been decided to keep 90 per cent of the space for wet waste, while 10 per cent space will be used for collecting dry waste and electronic waste. This will ensure that dry and wet waste do not mix,” said a senior civic official.

For the transport of dry waste, the BMC had already provided 46 special vehicles, the number of which has been later increased to 94. “The new condition will ensure that every garbage transport vehicle will have separate section for dry and e-waste. This will provide more space for carrying dry waste to the dumping grounds. The practice will also help people to segregate the waste in a proper manner and will also help in reducing burden on the dumping grounds,” the official added.

The BMC had made it compulsory for bulk waste generators to dispose off garbage in their premises only. This includes big housing societies, five star hotels, malls, and industries etc, which produce more than 100 kg of waste daily and have an area of more than 20,000 sq mt. The bulk waste generators have been asked to provide facilities like organic waste converter, vermi-composting, bio-methanation etc in their backyard to treat the waste at source.