Tracing the problem of garbage management to its very source — i.e., our doorstep — the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is chalking out a policy that mandates segregation of waste at the household level.
BBMP Commissioner H. Siddiah said here on Monday that the civic authority is working on a policy that stipulates that organic and non-biodegradable waste be segregated at home, from where the majority of the city's daily production of 4,800 tonnes of solid waste originates.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Bengaluru Recycling Habba 2011.
Plastic to crude oil
He said that the BBMP plans to set up biomethanisation plants to convert vegetable waste to power. Processing plants that convert plastic into crude oil are on the anvil, and these would have the capacity to process 10 tonnes of plastic every day.
Lakshmi, a waste-picker and member of the Hasiru Dala, said that the new identification cards distributed to a few waste collectors had given them a dignity they did not have a few months ago.
“Until a few months ago we were treated like dirt, like thieves. Now I am in a position to confront those who harass us,” she said.
Lakshmi added that waste-pickers needed protective gear such as gloves and masks.
The 25,000 waste-pickers in the city are an integral — if unrecognised — part of waste management.
Slogan
With its slogan, “Think before you throw”, the Recycling Habba aims to promote the many “Rs” — reduce, recycle, reuse, reclaim, recover and repair — of waste management to minimise the burden of the Rs. 402 crore-annual expenditure incurred in transporting and dumping the waste.
Many events
The two-week Habba (November 1 to 14) will see events across the city, starting with Recyclathon Awards to recognise schools, colleges and corporate campuses that promote waste reduction activities.
The other events include Alternative Current, an exhibition-cum-sale of waste-inspired “upcycled” lighting features by artists and designers, at Olive Beach from November 5 to 13.
Mela in the Mall at Mantri Mall (November 10 to 13) will feature an exhibition on the issues and solutions for solid waste management and also craft demos, games for children and an art exhibition by students of Chitrakala Parishat.
A Trash Trail (November 9 and 11) is a guided tour that follows trash from our doorstep to the landfill and also looks at the recycling market.
For more information, visit www.swmrt.com.
The campaign is organised by the Solid Waste Management Round table Bengaluru and supported by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and Karnataka High Court Legal Services Committee.
