Over 10,000 bulk waste generators, including gated communities and hotels, will soon have to pay private agencies for recycling of the waste generated on the premises.
Chennai Corporation will stop accepting waste from bulk waste generators in a few months. The civic body has floated expression of interest for empanelment of reputed agencies for providing waste recycling services in the city.
As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, all bulk waste generators and gated communities, shall within one year, ensure the segregation of waste and handover waste to authorised waste recyclers.
“The biodegradable waste should be processed through composting on the premises. The recyclable waste should be given to waste collectors as directed by the Corporation. But just 300 bulk generators have started the composting of waste,” said an official.
Many residents of gated communities have opposed the move to permit private agencies to recycle the waste generated on their premises. Residents have also opposed the move to process waste on their premises.
More than 95% of bulk generators have not yet cooperated with the civic body in the decentralised processing of waste.
Smooth transition
The private agency will assess characteristics of the waste generated at the site of the bulk waste generator. The agency will also propose segregation of waste and implement a logistic plan for the transition to recycling services or alternative processing for biodegradable waste.
“A meeting of representatives of 300 hotels will be held on Monday in the presence of the National Green Tribunal,” said an official.
The civic body is expected to sign an MoU for the engagement and create a provision in its online portal to help bulk waste generators.
