Bhogi and Pongal this year has resulted in more work for the Coimbatore Corporation conservancy workers, who have collected 150 tonnes more waste this Pongal season. On Saturday, according to Corporation officials, the total waste received at the Vellalore dump yard facility was 1,020 tonnes. The average daily waste inflow into the yard is around 850 tonnes.
The sources said that the increased inflow had to do with residents dumping old, unused items as part of the Bhogi and Pongal cleaning activities, and dumping portions of sugarcane and covers of items purchased for Pongal.
The inflow of waste directly into Vellalore stood at 450 tonnes followed by 170 tonnes from the Sathyamangalam Road transit station. The lowest collection was reported at the Peelamedu transit station at 104 tonnes.
The sources said that the segregation would begin on Monday when the workers returned for work. The degradable banana leaf, sugarcane and food waste from houses and restaurants would be segregated to produce compost. The non-degradable waste would be divided into recyclables and rejects.
