Societies defy appeals for processing wet waste

Mumbai: Despite various threats issued by the Brihanmumbai Munici-pal Corporation (BMC), majority of housing societies have continued to defy its appeals of processing wet waste in their premises. More than 60 housing societies are yet to respond to civic body’s calls of carrying out waste segregation and processing at their source.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had identified 3,374 bulk waste generators across the city and notices were issued to 3,153 of them to process and dispose of wet garbage in their premises only.  They include big housing societies, five star hotels, malls, industries etc, which daily produce more than 100 kgs of waste and have an area of more than 20,000 sq mt. The bulk waste generators were asked to provide facilities like organic waste converter, vermi-composting, bio-methanation etc to treat the waste at source.

According to civic data, only 1,433 housing societies, which come to mere 40 per cent, have started waste composting units in their premises, whereas 325 have sought extension. The Brihanmumbai Munici-pal Corporation has prosecuted 905 housing societies and also collected Rs 23.38 lakh for failing to process wet waste in their premises.

Failing to process the wet waste, the BMC has also threatened not to pick up waste from the erring housing societies. However, to avert the action, some of the housing societies have started claiming that they do not generate 100 kgs of wet waste. Following this, the BMC has decided to measure their weekly waste before taking the action.

“After hearing complaints from several societies, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to measure their wet waste for a week. Accordingly, their average daily waste amount will be ascertained. If it averages above 100 kgs, they will have to carry out processing of wet waste. But if found less, these societies will be excluded from the action,” said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner (solid waste management).