A number of suggestions, including setting up of plastic waste collection centres in malls, apartments, schools and all business establishments, were made at a conference on solid waste management here on Saturday.
Many of the recommendations of the conference, organised by the Commissionerate of Municipal Administration, would be incorporated in the proposed Municipal Solid Waste Management Policy for the State. Experts from other States and countries participated in the conference.
Addressing the conference, Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development K.P.Munusamy said that even the educated people in urban areas are not concerned about the problems caused by plastic waste.
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According to a paper presented at the conference, plastics constitute 7.04 per cent of the waste in urban local bodies in the State. Green waste – 32.25 per cent, food waste – 8 per cent, inerts – 34.65 per cent, rubber and leather – 1.45 per cent, paper – 6.45 per cent, rags and textiles – 3.14 per cent, timber and wood – 6.99 per cent and metal 0.03 per cent are other types of waste generated in urban local bodies.
Over 60 per cent of waste is generated from residential buildings of urban local bodies, the study said.
The study pointed to the importance of collection mechanism to achieve high degree of recycling. It suggested a progressive elimination of plastics that are toxic and non-recyclable.
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The urban local bodies should assess the suitability of new waste-to-energy technologies before adopting them
The study found that lack of processing of waste in existing dumpyards in the State was leading to contamination of soil and ground water in many urban local bodies including those on the outskirts of Chennai.
In the budget, urban local bodies set apart very little for actual treatment and disposal of waste. Over 70 per cent of the funds are used for collection of waste.
As integrated solid waste management have not worked as desired, the study suggested a hybrid model in which different components of the service are contracted to different parties.
Plastics constitute 7.04 per cent of the waste in urban local bodies
Over 60 per cent of waste is generated from residential buildings