Solid waste management challenge in DK: DC

Speaking after inaugurating a workshop on solid waste management for NGOs and elected representatives of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts organised by the department of civic administration on Tuesday, he said community centred waste management and disposal will help in disposing the waste successfully.

As the waste is being dumped without segregation in the designated area, the management becomes difficult and the surrounding areas gets polluted. “We need to bring in change in the collection of garbages from the source. Priority must be given to segregating the wastes after collecting it from houses and training on using wastes for productive purposes,” he added.

The DC said “several problems arise owing to the shifting of the wastes from the city to the rural areas or to the border areas. Owing to the problems in the day-to-day disposal of wastes in solid waste units, people are opposing such units. A slight mismanagement or failure to cover the waste makes the life of residents miserable.”

After the KUDCEMP project was initiated in the City, keeping in mind the population of the city in 2020-2025, a scientific waste management unit to handle 100 to 120 tonne wastes was set up in the city. However, the unit receives more than 200 tonnes of garbage everyday. As the garbage is not segregated at the source, and all types of wastes are being dumped in the dumping yard without segregation, the maintenance becomes difficult. The wastes must be segregated at the source itself. The garbage collected from the house should directly reach the unit through tanker instead of reaching the dustbin. There is a need to change the waste disposal system. Tender has been invited for solid waste management in the City,” he added.

HUDCO Peeta Co-ordinator Prof V Jagannath said 1,20,000 tonnes of solid waste is being produced in the country daily. Every local body has to spend Rs 950 for disposing one tonne waste. Town panchayats have to spend Rs 431 to dispose one tonne garbage and City Corporations have to spend Rs 1,500 per tonne.

The workshop aims at community centred waste management and creating an awareness among the elected representatives and community leaders. About 19 such workshops are being held across the State.

Deputy Mayor Rajani Dugganna, Commissioner Dr Vijayaprakash and others were present.