The civic body has collected 4,800 tonnes of non-degradable waste since June at Trichy city

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/source-segregation-residents-corporation-make-it-work/article22409451.ece

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
TIRUCHI,  JANUARY 10, 2018 00:00 IST
UPDATED: JANUARY 10, 2018 04:53 IST
The civic body has collected 4,800 tonnes of non-degradable waste since June

When segregation of wastes at source was made mandatory in June last year in the city, many had doubts on the sustainability of the initiative.

Negating such apprehensions, Tiruchi Corporation has not only made significant progress in sustaining the momentum, but also in institutionalising the concept.

Under the initiative, residents and commercial houses were barred from dumping non-degradable waste in dustbins in their localities. Penalty of Rs. 10 was levied for failing to segregate waste at source and Rs. 50 for dumping non-degradable waste in dustbins. The levy for commercial establishments wasRs. 200.

On its part, the Corporation began collecting non-degradable waste directly from households and commercial establishments on Wednesdays. It employed 1,500 persons, including 350 self help group members, and engaged 140 lightweight vehicles that could be operated even in narrow lanes for collecting waste at source.

Similarly, collection points were set up at 190 locations in different parts of the city to enable the commercial establishments to deposit non-degradable waste at their doorstep.

Initially, the civic body collected around 10 tonnes of non-degradable waste such as plastics, bottles and other recyclable items. It went up to 190 tonnes a week.

“More than anything else, the concept of segregating waste at source has been institutionalised. It has become a habit for the residents to hand over non-degradable waste on Wednesdays and sanitary workers to collect them regularly,” said Special Officer-cum-Commissioner N. Ravichandran, who received a certificate of appreciation from the Minister for Local Administration, S.P. Velumani, in Chennai on Monday.

Madurai and Coimbatore Corporations were the other Corporations appreciated for their solid waste management initiatives.

Mr. Ravichandran said the Corporation had collected 4,800 tonnes of non-degradable waste since June. The sale of waste fetched about Rs. 90 lakh.

“The Corporation does not take the money generated out of selling recyclable waste. It goes to the workers engaged in collecting them. Depending upon the quantity, each worker gets between Rs. 150 and Rs. 500. They feel that it is a good incentive for them. It motivates them to collect more waste,” Mr. Ravichandran said.