The consultative meeting conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) to discuss the Solid Waste Management Rules (2016) brought to the fore the responsibility of people in waste management. As per earlier rules, waste management was handled by the urban development authority but henceforth the onus will be on people to segregate the waste into three segments – biodegradable, non-biodegradable and domestic hazard waste – before handing them over to rag-pickers and waste dealers.
The meeting highlighted the importance of educating rag-pickers in identifying the waste and taking the separated segments of waste to the respective bins.
The new rules are stringent on organisers of pubic functions with more than 100 people. It will be mandatory for organisers to take permission from the local authorities and also be responsible for segregating the waste generated.
Coverage extended
The new rules have been extended beyond the municipal area to cover outgrowths in urban agglomerations, notified industrial townships, panchayats, areas under the control of railways, airports, airbase, port and harbour, defence establishments, special economic zones, State and Central government organizations and places of pilgrims, religious, historical importance.
Keen to promote ‘carry your bag and say no to carry bag’ concept, the new rules are all set to punish those carrying bags of quality below 50 microns.
Experts explained the methods available for safe disposal of solid waste. In the interactive session, the representatives of the local bodies raised issues pertaining to difficulties encountered in handling and disposal of solid wastes with the resource persons.
About 250 representatives of the local bodies, townships of the major industries participated in the meeting.
APPCB officials and member secretary B. S. S. Prasad and resource persons T. Mahima, Soma Bharat, B. Siva Prasad, N.V. Bhaskara Rao, A. Vijay Kumar, and Satyanarayana participated in the discussions.
