Residents, civic workers not following waste segregation rule

The 'two bins and one bag' system ordered by the high court to all waste generators (citizens) has been gathering dust with residents not following the order despite efforts by resident welfare associations (RWAs) at the ward level. 

For instance, members of Hennur Layout Resident Welfare Association distributed colour coded bins – green and red -- among residents a few months ago to help people segregate garbage strictly. 

However, most people use only one bin for dumping both dry and wet waste. According to the high court directions on December 17, biodegradable or wet waste should be handed over to garbage collectors in a green-coloured bin or container, hazardous waste in a red-coloured bin and dry waste in reusable bags. 

Secretary of the Hennur Layout RWA N Muniraju said: "Segregation too is not efficient as people are handing over mixed waste and pourakarmikas, in turn, end up collecting them. Palike officials should implement the system strictly by fining violators.” 

Similarly, V Purushotham and a couple of residents from Halasuru brought colour-coded bins along with a reusable bag on court directions. 

But now, they have stopped using them due to pourakarmikas’ negligence. Members from Halasuru Lake Residents Welfare Association (HLRWA) said that despite handing out segregated waste in separate bins, pourakarmikas end up mixing it. 

"Hence, residents have stopped following the 'two bin and one bag ' system. The civic agency should first ensure that pourakarmikas do not mix the waste and also provide sufficient lorries to transport the waste to designated landfills," added  Purushotham. 

At Nobel Residency Layout, Begur, residents follow segregation rules but not the colour-coded bin system. President, Nobel Residency Welfare Association, K Prakash said the Palike should provide bins and bags to citizens since not all can afford them. 

BBMP Special Commissioner for Solid Waste Management (SWM), Subodh Yadav, said that they will hold awareness workshops on waste segregation by roping in local RWAs. He added that the Palike might increase the penalty on those not following court directions in the coming days.