: Heaps of non-degradable waste, including plastic, is piling up in many parts of the city even as the city corporation is awaiting assistance from the State government for sanitary landfill of non-degradable refuse.
Plastic waste collected in gunny bags and piles of other refuses could be seen stacked in many parts of the city roads. Refuse, mostly in the form of plastic covers and broken and rejected plastic utensils, is being dumped on the premises of the solid waste treatment plant of the Kochi Corporation at Brahmapuram.
Though the local body had been selling clean plastic to some traders, soiled plastic and reusable refuse continue to reach the yard in large quantities. It is estimated that close to 50 tonnes of non-degradable refuse have accumulated at the site.
Kochi Corporation had sought assistance from the State government for creating two sanitary landfill sites at Brahmapuram, said T.K. Ashraf, the chairman of the Health Standing Committee of the corporation.
It was nearly two months ago that the local body forwarded the request to the State government. Sanitary landfills are integral part of the waste management scheme and the local body had earlier cleared a portion of the accumulated refuse through the measure. This time, support has been sought for two sites of 10 cents each. The project would cost around Rs. 2 crore, he said.
Regarding the piling up of waste on the city roads, Mr. Ashraf said the local body was focusing on biodegradable waste since Onam holidays. The continuous holidays had affected the clearing of refuse from the city and priority was accorded to cleaning rotting refuse. Once the backlog is cleared, non-degradable waste would be removed, Mr. Ashraf said.
The local body has also decided to allow the existing operator of the Brahmapuram plant to continue till it chooses another one through the bidding process. The local body has started the paper work for selecting a new operator and some guidelines have been evolved for the process. Only those individuals or agencies experienced in managing waste treatment plants of 200 tonne solid waste would be considered.
If the successful bidder relinquishes the bid, he would be made liable for the loss sustained by the local body, according to a document of the local body.
