BMC may ask societies to set up compost plants to manage waste

In another effort to encourage waste segregation, the BMC is likely to write to housing societies, asking them to set up compost plants within their premises or within households.

In another effort to encourage waste segregation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is likely to write to housing societies, asking them to set up compost plants within their premises or within households.

This is part of the BMC’s implementation of the central government’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

With compost plants, organic waste can be processed locally and less garbage will reach the city’s over-burdened dumping grounds, said a press release issued by the civic body on Monday.

“We will first have to identify societies based on the quantum of waste they generate and on the space that they have. Then, junior overseers of every ward will establish communication with these societies asking them to start composting,” said Prakash Patil, deputy municipal commissioner, solid waste management.

According to the BMC’s data, around 150 housing societies have already installed compost plants in their premises and around 1,200 households have adopted this within their homes.

Citizens can also approach the BMC if they require any technical guidance on the subject. Activists, however, said the BMC must first study the subject and educate its staff members about composting.

“The BMC’s infrastructure to support such initiatives taken up by citizens is not ready. Ward-level staff must be trained so they can educate and supervise composting plants installed by citizens. The BMC’s own ward offices must start and set an example,” said Rajkumar Sharma, president, Advanced Locality Management and Networking Action Committee in Chembur.

Sharma said there have been many instances in the past when composting plants and biogas plants that were functioning well had to be shut down because of a lack of support from the BMC.

“Composting procedure has to be followed well otherwise the plant can stink. Has the BMC done any study on what can be done with the compost manure that is created from this process?” asked Sharma.