Years on, waste segregation at source still a distant dream in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Years after waste segregation at source was introduced in the city, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike still struggles with mixed waste dumped by residents. Garbage collectors are forced to segregate the waste themselves at some places as residents are unwilling to co-operate with the civic authorities.

As per the National Green Tribunal, segregation of waste at source is very essential and in case of non-compliance, fines can be imposed.

The BBMP too has laid out rules for waste segregation. Recently, it also came out with rules on waste management. But the reality on the ground is vastly different.

Speaking to Public TV, a garbage supervisor in Vasanthnagar said, “Not everyone segregates waste at home. Only about 50 per cent of the people do it. The rest we have to segregate ourselves as, otherwise, it won’ be accepted by the compactor operators. We have been telling people to segregate waste, but they keep mixing it. If we don’t lift the waste, they get into arguments with us. Working on the field with people is very different. It’s not like sitting in offices, holding meetings and passing orders”.

On Mount Carmel Road, a supervisor said that in some houses, were people leave early for work, the waste is dumped by the roadside.

In Palace Guttahalli, the garbage collectors themselves segregate the waste. “Some of the rich people don’t bother to segregate waste, so our boys do it”, said their supervisor.

Near Cauvery theatre, a garbage supervisor told Public TV, “We keep telling the people to segregate, but they just don’t listen. Some of them offer money for coffee and ask us to do it ourselves.”

In Sadashivnagar, the garbage collectors said they mostly get segregated waste and noted that some of the households even use kitchen compost as fertilizer. “Only in rare cases, some people dump waste”, the supervisor said.

Palike Special Commissioner Harish said they are introducing a new system where eight IAS officers will oversee waste management system in the different zones. “Now, with financial powers, the zonal commissioners will have to act. We are also discussing how to reduce stench from waste. We are also coming up with a policy on handling C&D (construction and demolition) waste”, he added.