Public dumping of waste persists in Coimbatore despite removal of garbage bins

Updated - September 22, 2024 07:29 pm IST - Coimbatore

Garbage dumped on the streets of Venkitapuram in Coimbatore city on Sunday following the removal of garbage bins.

Garbage dumped on the streets of Venkitapuram in Coimbatore city on Sunday following the removal of garbage bins. | Photo Credit: PERIASAMY M

Despite efforts by the Coimbatore Corporation to improve door-to-door waste collection by removing public garbage bins, illegal dumping of waste in public spaces remains widespread across the city.

“We have removed around 1,400 out of 1,500 bins in the city. Some remain in hotspots and commercial areas where waste generation is higher,” said K. Boopathi, the city’s Health Officer. Mr. Boopathi explained that the Corporation has been removing bins in phases since the start of the year to reduce the volume of mixed waste. “We now plan to introduce night waste collection in commercial areas to further reduce mixed waste,” he added.

However, residents continue to dispose of waste in public areas. K. Venkateswaran, a resident of Edayarpalayam, said, “Even after the bin was removed from our street, waste kept accumulating in the same spot. The Corporation assigned a watchman and covered the area with a green net, but waste was still scattered. Now, people are dumping waste wherever they find open space.”

M.V. Andiappan, Zonal Sanitary Officer for the South Zone, said, “To curb open dumping, the Corporation imposes fines ranging from ₹100 to ₹1,000. We actively search for materials in the trash through which to identify offenders and impose on-the-spot fines. In the South Zone alone, mixed waste collection has reduced from 70 tonnes in January to around 10 tonnes.”

“The city needs to achieve 100% door-to-door segregated waste collection, ensuring no waste is disposed of in public spaces. This requires public cooperation. We are continuously raising awareness through various channels, including campaigns in schools and colleges. Currently, almost 90% of waste is being segregated at the source,” said Mr. Boopathi.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.