Festivities are adding to the woes of civic administrators.
From food waste to flowers and festoon, discards from Onam celebrations have increased the quantum of refuse that has to be collected and transported to the waste treatment facility.
Since the beginning of the festival season, there has been an increase of 20 tonnes of refuse in the city. The quantity is expected to go up in the coming days.
The rising trend of food waste reaching the streets began last week following Onam celebrations at offices and other institutions, said V.K. Minimol, chairperson of the health standing committee of the Kochi Corporation.
On an average, around 230 tonnes of waste are collected and transported from the city daily to the waste processing facility at Brahmapuram. However, since the celebrations began, there has been an average increase of 20 tonnes of waste a day, and they are mostly food waste that reaches the collection points in excess, she added.
Besides food waste, flowers used for making floral carpets reach wasteyards. There has been a significant increase in the quantity of discarded flowers too. The increasing load is forcing the civic body to spend more on transportation of refuse.
“The corporation cannot impose extra charges on people and institutions celebrating Onam, and therefore it meets the additional expenses involved in waste management on its own,” said Ms. Minimol.
Meanwhile, the civic body has decided to seek the services of two workers each for every division during the Onam season for collection of refuse. As permanent workers of the corporation will be availing holidays, casual workers will be pressed into action.
However, there will be no garbage collection on Thiruvonam day on September 4.
Residents can contact the regional offices of the corporation for help in collection and transportation of waste, Ms. Minimol added.
