BMC: No segregation, no pick up

Following the massive fires at the Deonar dumping ground, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is contemplating making the segregation of dry and wet waste

Following the massive fires at the Deonar dumping ground, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is contemplating making the segregation of dry and wet waste mandatory for housing societies, starting with parts of South Mumbai this week. The civic body plans to charge fines and initiate a ‘no segregation, no pick up’ drive.

Fire and smoke at Deonar dumping ground. (HT File Photo)

Bandra teacher’s guide to waste management

The BMC will appeal to 169 societies in A ward, including Colaba, Marine Drive, Fort and Ballard Estate, to start segregating garbage, starting Tuesday.

Societies can treat wet waste within their premises and dispose of only the dry waste, which the BMC can recycle.

The officials are responding to the ‘Save Deonar’ campaign, initiated in the ward to train societies about the benefits of waste segregation, by the Clean Mumbai Foundation and Mumbai First.

Kiran Dighavkar, ward officer, A ward said, “We have told citizens that we will undertake the three-stage process to better waste management practices here.”

Under section 368 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, the BMC can levy a penalty on housing societies for filthy premises or improper waste management practices, officials said.

The city generates 9,000 metric tonnes of waste, dumped every day at the Mulund, Deonar and Kanjurmarg dumping grounds.

Deonar reported two massive fires in the last few months owing to the large quantities of waste dumped there illegally.

Kunti Oza, chairperson of the Clean Mumbai Foundation said, “Waste segregation practices will minimize the garbage being dumped at Deonar. We have roped in 31 commercial buildings in Nariman Point. We have started making people aware of the benefits of treating wet waste at Marine Drive.”

The foundation aims to train about 200 buildings by the end of the year, Oza added.