The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) plans to rope in rag-pickers for segregating recyclable materials from the garbage generated in the city on a daily basis. Officials say the move will help in making good use of recyclable materials and besides providing better livelihood for the rag-pickers.
Most rag-pickers after segregating the recyclable materials from garbage sell the same at different scrap shops for a lesser price. VMC officials say several companies are involved in purchasing recyclable materials at higher prices than the scrap shops.
This will two serve purposes. The rag-pickers can earn more by selling the recyclable materials to the companies and at the same time, it will help in keeping the city neat and clean. These plans were discussed with a Singapore delegation, which arrived in the city on Tuesday to study the solid waste management practice.
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VMC Commissioner G. Veerapandian said there were more than 400 rag-pickers in the city and they would be stationed at five different locations -- Eluru locks, Bhavanipuram, K.L.Rao Nagar, Singh Nagar and Auto Nagar -- for segregating the recyclable materials. They would be provided decent working conditions and the corporation would assist them in selling the recyclable materials to the companies at higher prices, he said.
During the day-long tour of the five-member Singapore delegation, VMC officials made a power point presentation on the solid waste management, including collection of garbage from colonies and main roads, segregation and dumping the garbage at Jakkampudi yard.
It is learnt that the Singapore team wanted the VMC to place the dumper bins in clusters at a few localities to avoid garbage spill over. The officials said that the colony associations and commercial establishments were seeking more dumper bins in their respective areas for easy and convenient disposal of garbage. The Singapore team would study the practice and suggest effective measures for clearing the garbage, Mr. Veerapandian said.
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