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Garbage collection needs a radical overhaul

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Written By s_yajaman - 2 July, 2009

Civic amenities Bangalore Bangalore BBMP Waste Management Garbage Review

One of the most disgusting sights in Bangalore is one of plastic packets of garbage littered by the sides of roads, in vacant plots, on pavements.  Growing up in Bangalore in the 70s and 80s this was not the case.

Why do we have such a primitive garbage disposal (household level) and collection system?  We are not the first city to generate garbage.  Is it so difficult to find a solution that is a bit more hygenic and a bit better for the eyes. 

I have a feeling that anything that does not affect the car driver (broken or non-existent pavements, lack of bus stops, garbage) is not a priority for the BBMP.  It appears that its only priority is to make the car driver's commute smooth.  Rant over.

Let us assume there are 1,000,000 households in Bangalore.  Let's say the contractor visits one locality/road once in 2 days. 

Provide a plastic drum with a lid for every 10 households big enough for about 40 filled bags.  Ideally line them with a plastic bag. Have them at regular intervals so that a person does not have to walk too far to throw it.  When the van comes around they go to the drum and pick up the garbage, replace the lining bag and get on their way. 

We need about 100,000 drums (cost rs.350 each) - Rs.3.5 crores. 

Let's assume one van can cover 250 drums in 8 hours.  We need 200 vans (one drum every 2 days) to cover the 100,000 drums.  that is about one van every ward.  To be generous 2 vans every ward.  Or 400 vans.  Let us say we pay each van Rs.50,000 per month (diesel, depreciation manpower (including gloves and boots!)).  That is rs.2 crores a month or rs.25 crores a year.  Assume that 50% of drums need to be replaced each year.  That is another 2 crores a year.  Are we saying that BBMP cannot spend rs.25 crores/year?  They seem to blow 10 times that money on tarring roads and building magic boxes. 

Excuses trotted out will be - it is too complex, drums will get stolen, people will still throw.

Monitoring 400 vans with a route plan is not rocket science.  As I suspected earlier, it is simply not a priority for BBMP.

Srivathsa

 

 

 

 

 

COMMENTS

In fact, there is a lot of

rs - 2 July, 2009 - 08:42

In fact, there is a lot of money to be made in garbage collection - in New York, a few years ago, it was discovered that the mafia were quite involved in the garbage collection business simply because of the money to be made - not merely because they would have a place to dump bodies ;).

I think though, in India, we are so used to living in filth and squalor that a majority of the population does not feel that it is a problem. Added to this is that thanks to our wonderful caste system, a lot of people feel that it is below them to clean up. Its also appaling the way people treat the street sweepers and garbage collectors - almost as if they are sub-human - disregarding the essential service they silently provide. Think of what the state of the roads would be if these poor people werent there to sweep up every morning.

On a slightly more optimistic note - if you examine the piles of garbage in some detail you notice that most of it is bio-degradable. We still have not reached the levels of plastic waste production as they have in the West - though with the proliferation of Reliance Fresh type stores, we are quickly catching up. Anyway, it suggests that much of the stuff can be composted away quite easily - if people can be convinced to segragate their garbage. Also measures such as requesting stores to charge for plastic bags - and perhaps a deposit on plastic bottles - would go a long way in reducing the non-biodegradable component of waste. In Germany, for example, they chage a small amount for plastic bags - so most people carry a cloth bag. Here if Reliance Fresh, or the neighborhood Bhajjiwala, charged a rupee for a bag, most people would go out and buy a reuseable, biodegradeable cloth bag. It was like that 20 years ago - people would either use a cloth bag and the bhajjiwala would use a recycled paper cover - but now, with increased wealth, this has changed.

Ramesh

 

Innovative Technology For Municipal Waste Processing.

kbsyed61 - 2 July, 2009 - 18:46

Some basic information on processing of muncipal waste.

http://www.new-garbage.com/?id=10235#help2

Some useful Information on Waste management from UNEP

kbsyed61 - 2 July, 2009 - 19:00

http://www.unep.or.jp/Ietc/Publications/index_pub.asp

Be a Green Warror-Quilts/pillows/foot/cricket balls/teddy bears

Vasanthkumar Mysoremath - 7 July, 2009 - 06:10

I am covering myself with a warm quilt and resting my head on a pillow, playing with football/ cricket ball and my kids play with their teddy bears - ALL PREPARED OUT OF DISCARDED NON-BIO DEGRADABLE PLASTIC CARRY BAGS/PIECES ETC. 

This post is also available on Facebook - read the comments from somewhere around the world.

INTERESTED? If You want to be a Green Warrior -  then have patience and read the following post - it may be long but it is worth - adopt it - it is the grassroots level solution for a global problem and does not involve nano-technology or billion dollar investment :

We are the people, we are the world, we are the plastic users and depletors of our ecology and environs and we must also become the saviors of the world.

INNOVATIVE IDEAS FOR PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF EARTH FROM THE DANGERS OF SPREAD OF PLASTIC ON EARTH

CONTROLLING PROLIFERATION/CIRCULATION OF NON-BIO DEGRADABLE PLASTIC/POLYTHENE CARRY BAGS IN ENVIRONMENT

 -Vasanthkumar Mysoremath

World Bank Honored Innovator for Project U-SEE/IDM 2007, Social Activist, Parisara Mitra, Convenor: Anti Tobacco Forum and Vote You Must Movement, Advisor: Public Vigilance Forum and Karnataka Grahaka Panchayat, HRD Personality Development in Schools

‘Vasanth Mahal’, No.3835/3, II Cross, Umar Khayyam Road,Tilak Nagar,    Mysore570021                                                          Cell:9845950440    vasanthmysoremath@gmail.com

          Plastic carry bags are non-bio degradable and have become ubiquitous and are a favorite with consumers all over the world because they are just ‘use and throw’ articles. People are disposing their unwanted plastic articles through the house hold waste, without concern about the dangers of such an action.  These plastics are actually doing a lot of harm and polluting the soil and our environment because they do not mix or melt with the soil and if burnt, they spew lot of toxic gases like carbon dioxide and other green house gases that go into weakening our ozone layer with consequential climate change, global warming or global dimming. The plastic spread beneath the soil chokes the earth from its natural breathing mechanism, prevents percolation of water resulting in decrease in ground water level and is a danger to the animals, birds and bees. 
       Consider the enormity of the dangers of plastic pollution with a simple calculation; thousands of business houses, provision shops, malls that sell provisions and house hold needs and consumer goods are packaging their commodities/goods in plastic/polythene carry bags of varying sizes. Majority of such plastics are not within the permissible micron levels as prescribed under the law. Conservative calculation: Bengaluru’s population is about 75 lakhs plus; assuming there are about 10,000 Provision Stores/Departmental Stores/ Malls etc., and if about 5,00,000 people buy their daily needs packaged in 10 non-bio degradable plastic/polythene carry bags of varying sizes, then, those consumers will be responsible for the release of a total of 50,00,00,00,000 non-bio degradable plastic pieces every day and in 365 days, the total plastic released would be an unimaginable figure of 1,82,50,00,00,00,000. Our future generations will be literally swimming in plastic world. Are we responsible citizens?   

        In order to prevent, preserve and protect our soil, water, ecology and environment from further degradation and contamination by plastic, it is the duty of every citizen to act in a responsible manner and be the protectors of our little delicate earth.
       The following innovative ideas have been tried and tested and are found to be  educative scholastic practical extra curricular activity for children and for those concerned citizens who would like to be protectors and preservers of our future mother earth and our future generations:
(1)  Plastic Bed sheet /Rasai /Pillow:  After collecting sufficient number of large/medium carry bags, they may be neatly cut into square/rectangular shape and spread/arranged on the ground in 4 ft.X6 ft. size. Thousands of plastic sheets may be placed one over the other to create bedsheet/rasai. After getting a fair idea that the spread out of plastic carry bags resemble and feels like a thick blanket or Rasai, with the help of needle and thread, the length and breadth of this innovative bedsheet may be stitched here and there so that the pieces do not get dislocated. The borders may be stitched with running stitches and the entire bedsheet can be lifted and kept ready.
      Next step would be to convert this plastic bed into a finished product with all the coverings and looks of a natural bed sheet /rasai. Take two old bedsheets/sarees, cut them to the size of the plastic bed sheet/rasai, keep one piece at the bottom and spread the other piece on top, with needle and thread, put as many designed stitches in a criss cross fashion so that the plastic sheets inside may be held securely and by properly folding the edges and stitching them, a designer warm bed sheet / rasai will be ready for use.
      A lot of bits and pieces of plastic and cloth may be lying around after this designed bedsheet/rasai is prepared. Then, take a pillow cover, stuff all these bits and pieces and also some more plastic/polythene carry bags and old clothes etc., and convert them into soft pillows.
(2)  Plastic stuffed old balls: Schools may request their wards to bring 10 plastic carry bags everyday from home or from anywhere, folded and tied into a small bundle with a rubber band and hand them over to the school authorities; after a sizeable quantity is collected, volunteer children may be given the task of stuffing these little bundled plastic into old/torn football/volleyball/baseball by removing the bladder, so that as much of plastic as possible can be reduced from circulation. These balls can be got stitched properly and given to school children themselves or can be distributed to children of poor kids in slum areas etc., to kick around and play. Since the idea is to stop as much of plastic as possible from circulation in the environment, these balls need not adhere to any international standards but can be played without any inhibitions.
(3)    Plastic stuffed teddy bears: Markets are full of toys of different shapes and sizes for toddlers to play with. Parents will be weary about getting some hard plastic toys lest their kids hurt their gums or eyes while playing. At present, soft shredded foam, rubber etc., are being used to make them fluffy toys.   In order to reduce millions of plastic in circulation in our environment, shredded plastic covers etc. may be used to stuff such empty cloth based toys like cats, dogs, teddy bears etc., to make them fluffy and soft to play with by children.     
         Civic authorities to clear the stock of plastic from schools:    If this kind of activity is not suitable to school authorities or children due to their tight study schedule, these thousands of plastic carry bags brought in by children can be either sold by the school authorities to plastic manufacturers for recycling and the money earned can be kept in poor boys fund or else, the Civic authorities can be requested to collect the same from the school premises for further action. This way, we will be helping the civic authorities in their rendering service and also helping our dear earth to breath without chocking with plastic.  
 (3)    Environmental and Social benefits: These grassroots level replicable, measurable, adoptable, sustainable and economical innovative idea is advocated with a holistic approach. What is most important is the resultant benefit - an answer to a global problem of arresting as much of non-bio degradable plastic from circulation as possible and converting the dangerous waste into products of utility without intervention of high technology or million dollars investment. Such ideas will only help in preserving and protecting our delicate earth from further chocking of the soil, its degradation, percolation of rain water.  
-    If one bedsheet/quilt (rasai)/pillow/ball/toy could arrest circulation of thousands of plastic/polythene catastrophic elements, it is worth trying by all those who care for our good earth. 
-      By preparing and donating these products to the poorest of the poor, we will be rendering a social service with satisfaction of having done something good for our earth and to the society we are living in.  
-       Just look at the smile that spreads on the face of a slum kid when a ball/toy is given to him and watch the face of a coolie in the Railway station/slum dweller light up when a bedsheet/quilt/pillow/ball/toy – all utility products - are handed over to him to keep himself warm during cold wintry days or just to spread it and sleep at other times and relaxing with a pillow or for their kids to play with!!
-   We will be educating the school children about the dangers of circulation of plastic in environment.
-    It is common to see many garbage dumps being set on fire with lots of plastic strewn around. Such burning always results in creating a lot of carbon footprints due to emission of Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide and other toxic green house gases by burning plastics. Such spewing of GHG is resulting in consequent climate change, global warming/global dimming etc. 
-    Our immediate environment will be a much better place to live in. If we can implement these simple novel initiatives and make an online correction to the ways we are throwing plastic on to the streets, our children and grand children can live in a much better environment.    
End Result: Number of plastic that can be locked up inside these utility products depends upon how many of us, concerned citizens; put our heart and soul to protect our ecology and environment.
- Vasanthkumar Mysoremath
 

 

SWM Manual of operations reqd to be prepared

Public Agenda - 4 July, 2009 - 18:58

Find out how the BBMP will prepare and get its own manual for

SWM based on the SC rulings

and the MoE&F SWM (M&h) rules 2001

There is no clear idea of what is reqd to be done but only an adhoc set of disjointed

activites is carried out in BBMP. people friendly laws need to be in place such as for public health impacts of bad SWM

and these need to be follwed with a clear knowledge of the impact

 

 

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