One of the most disgusting sights in Bangalore is one of plastic packets of garbage littered by the sides of roads, in vacant plots, on pavements. Growing up in Bangalore in the 70s and 80s this was not the case.
Why do we have such a primitive garbage disposal (household level) and collection system? We are not the first city to generate garbage. Is it so difficult to find a solution that is a bit more hygenic and a bit better for the eyes.
I have a feeling that anything that does not affect the car driver (broken or non-existent pavements, lack of bus stops, garbage) is not a priority for the BBMP. It appears that its only priority is to make the car driver's commute smooth. Rant over.
Let us assume there are 1,000,000 households in Bangalore. Let's say the contractor visits one locality/road once in 2 days.
Provide a plastic drum with a lid for every 10 households big enough for about 40 filled bags. Ideally line them with a plastic bag. Have them at regular intervals so that a person does not have to walk too far to throw it. When the van comes around they go to the drum and pick up the garbage, replace the lining bag and get on their way.
We need about 100,000 drums (cost rs.350 each) - Rs.3.5 crores.
Let's assume one van can cover 250 drums in 8 hours. We need 200 vans (one drum every 2 days) to cover the 100,000 drums. that is about one van every ward. To be generous 2 vans every ward. Or 400 vans. Let us say we pay each van Rs.50,000 per month (diesel, depreciation manpower (including gloves and boots!)). That is rs.2 crores a month or rs.25 crores a year. Assume that 50% of drums need to be replaced each year. That is another 2 crores a year. Are we saying that BBMP cannot spend rs.25 crores/year? They seem to blow 10 times that money on tarring roads and building magic boxes.
Excuses trotted out will be - it is too complex, drums will get stolen, people will still throw.
Monitoring 400 vans with a route plan is not rocket science. As I suspected earlier, it is simply not a priority for BBMP.
Srivathsa
ಈ Forum topic ಅನ್ನು ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರಿಗೆ ಕಳಿಸಿ
In fact, there is a lot of
In fact, there is a lot of money to be made in garbage collection - in New York, a few years ago, it was discovered that the mafia were quite involved in the garbage collection business simply because of the money to be made - not merely because they would have a place to dump bodies ;).
I think though, in India, we are so used to living in filth and squalor that a majority of the population does not feel that it is a problem. Added to this is that thanks to our wonderful caste system, a lot of people feel that it is below them to clean up. Its also appaling the way people treat the street sweepers and garbage collectors - almost as if they are sub-human - disregarding the essential service they silently provide. Think of what the state of the roads would be if these poor people werent there to sweep up every morning.
On a slightly more optimistic note - if you examine the piles of garbage in some detail you notice that most of it is bio-degradable. We still have not reached the levels of plastic waste production as they have in the West - though with the proliferation of Reliance Fresh type stores, we are quickly catching up. Anyway, it suggests that much of the stuff can be composted away quite easily - if people can be convinced to segragate their garbage. Also measures such as requesting stores to charge for plastic bags - and perhaps a deposit on plastic bottles - would go a long way in reducing the non-biodegradable component of waste. In Germany, for example, they chage a small amount for plastic bags - so most people carry a cloth bag. Here if Reliance Fresh, or the neighborhood Bhajjiwala, charged a rupee for a bag, most people would go out and buy a reuseable, biodegradeable cloth bag. It was like that 20 years ago - people would either use a cloth bag and the bhajjiwala would use a recycled paper cover - but now, with increased wealth, this has changed.
Ramesh
Innovative Technology For Municipal Waste Processing.
Some basic information on processing of muncipal waste.
http://www.new-garbage.com/?id=10235#help2
Some useful Information on Waste management from UNEP
http://www.unep.or.jp/Ietc/Publications/index_pub.asp
SWM Manual of operations reqd to be prepared
Find out how the BBMP will prepare and get its own manual for
SWM based on the SC rulings
and the MoE&F SWM (M&h) rules 2001
There is no clear idea of what is reqd to be done but only an adhoc set of disjointed
activites is carried out in BBMP. people friendly laws need to be in place such as for public health impacts of bad SWM
and these need to be follwed with a clear knowledge of the impact
CLEAN UP BENGALURU IN ONE DAY !
Hi
There seems to be a `people's movement' to clean up Bangalore - following the example of Estonia, where they cleaned up the country in one day by mobilizing 50,000 volunteers. It would be really remarkable if such a thing could be done here. Nevertheless - some people are trying and it would great if you volunteer.
CLEAN UP BENGALURU in A DAY
www.cbengaluru.com
Ramesh
tackling pastic waste
I think one of the approaches is to tackle waste management at the source itself something like what the doctor tells the patient - prevention is better than cure. Laws can be enacted and enforced to stop plastic bags and packaging material from being available/disbursed at stores. San Franciso in the US is the first US city to enact legislation to ban plastic bags. Other countries that have banned plastic bags are Australia, Italy, Bangladesh (enforcement though is a big question in Bangladesh), Taiwan etc. Ireland has a plastic bag tax. India can go in for banning plastic bags.
Plastic Bags
Hi
I think a ban on plastic bags is too draconian and perhaps wont work - especially since there are a lot of big companies ( Reliance Fresh, for example ) who have a lot at stake. What might work is if the store charge for plastic bags - perhaps Re 1 per bag, and also offer cloth bags for sale - at a reasonable price, say Rs. 10. Then people will be inclined to use cloth bags for most of their day to day purchases.
Another thing is to charge a deposit on plastic bottles - say Rs 5 per bottle - so this will ensure that even if someone throws it away, someone else will collect it. This might work, though as a friend pointed out, someone will start a factory to make the plastic bottles to claim a deposit !
Ramesh
The trash cans are missing still
Be a Green Warror-Quilts/pillows/foot/cricket balls/teddy bears
I am covering myself with a warm quilt and resting my head on a pillow, playing with football/ cricket ball and my kids play with their teddy bears - ALL PREPARED OUT OF DISCARDED NON-BIO DEGRADABLE PLASTIC CARRY BAGS/PIECES ETC.
This post is also available on Facebook - read the comments from somewhere around the world.
INTERESTED? If You want to be a Green Warrior - then have patience and read the following post - it may be long but it is worth - adopt it - it is the grassroots level solution for a global problem and does not involve nano-technology or billion dollar investment :
We are the people, we are the world, we are the plastic users and depletors of our ecology and environs and we must also become the saviors of the world.
INNOVATIVE IDEAS FOR PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF EARTH FROM THE DANGERS OF SPREAD OF PLASTIC ON EARTH
CONTROLLING PROLIFERATION/CIRCULATION OF NON-BIO DEGRADABLE PLASTIC/POLYTHENE CARRY BAGS IN ENVIRONMENT
-Vasanthkumar Mysoremath
World Bank Honored Innovator for Project U-SEE/IDM 2007, Social Activist, Parisara Mitra, Convenor: Anti Tobacco Forum and Vote You Must Movement, Advisor: Public Vigilance Forum and Karnataka Grahaka Panchayat, HRD Personality Development in Schools
‘Vasanth Mahal’, No.3835/3, II Cross, Umar Khayyam Road,Tilak Nagar, Mysore570021 Cell:9845950440 vasanthmysoremath@gmail.com
In order to prevent, preserve and protect our soil, water, ecology and environment from further degradation and contamination by plastic, it is the duty of every citizen to act in a responsible manner and be the protectors of our little delicate earth.
Plastic Policy
Plastic policy in India looks to be at a nascent stage. Though the need for a comprehensive policy can not be over emphasized, its role as an environmental hazard is a tricky issue due to technical complexity as far as its safe disposal is concerned. A total ban of plastic bags is a worth while proposition. Plastic is inherently an accidental demon destined to chase its creator till the dooms day.
I came across Mr. Rajendra Rane some time back and talked to him (2341-0408 : 98802-96654 : rajendra.rane@gmail.com). My post on “Bagging it the green way” refers. I contacted the Fresh @ Indiranagar people with a view to bring to their notice about Rajendra Ranes work. Surprise of surprise the next thing they did was making their plastic carry bags at Fresh @ available at a nominal cost of 20 Paisa. Their logic was to make people reuse their plastic bags!! Whether people reuse or not Fresh @ people make their gains by selling their bags too. Business breeds innovations!!
Cotton or Jute bags are environmental friendly; where as plastic bags are not. Higher gage is a quick solution though, but still remains to be a health hazard. The problem still needs to be addressed. VKM’s approach is also not acceptable. The plastic demon is difficult to manage let alone subdue. VKM perhaps would not agree with me as he has put lot of time and energy in his plastic reuse innovation. I offer my apologies to VKM. No hard feelings sir.
What we need is an environment friendly plastic cotton material for replacing the plastic material under discussion. A biodegradable plastic.
Plastic blended roads
http://kkplasticroads.com/ is using a method to blend plastics with road construction materials and seems to have successfully completed around 40 kms of road with this technique in Bangalore. This is a great way to use non bio-degradable waste to build long lasting roads. Hope the company finds proper investments and support from govt to help collect plastic bags., bottles. If this idea flies, people should be encouraged to collect and sell their plastic waste like they collect and sell old newspapers.
U R not allowed to take jute/cotton bags inside hi-end stores..?
PSA Sir,
Absolutely no hard feelings. As I have pointed out, old habits die hard and some prajas think that by uploading their holistic thoughts, problems at grassroots level will be solved. Retrofitting certain points will not serve the purpose. My efforts will continue albeit such posts. Anyways, try to create a quilt for yourself - it is really warm in these chilly days.
For your kind information, grassroot level approach example: our ISHA foundation volunteers recently at Chamundi Hills cleared up nearly 350 kgs of garbage strewn by visitors in the form of broken bottles, empty gutka packets, water bottles. I am sure even this effort will not be apprecited by certain people because they think that such things should not be done by parisara mitras but such misuse of tourist spots should be banned by enactment of some laws by government and that people should follow such rules and regulations. Blah, Blah, Blah....
Megabyte Sir,
Plastic roads should have become the order of the day. But the nexus at certain levels of service providers and the regular contractors who are brothers in law of elected reps are thwarting any attempt for intro of such innovative deliverable products.
- Vasanth Mysoremath
Charge for plastic bags
Surprise of surprise the next thing they did was making their plastic carry bags at Fresh @ available at a nominal cost of 20 Paisa
There sould be a charge for plastic bags. Starting with a rupee for small ones. Most of europe charges.
people should be encouraged to collect and sell their plastic waste like they collect and sell old newspapers
This is interesting since there is already a newspaper recycling habit in our upbringing. This can be tapped.
eco friendly garbage collection at it's best
When I was in India last May I witnessed something that amazed me since this was the very first time I had seen anything like it in India (at least the parts that I have been to or lived in). What I saw was organized garbage collection, so I captured it on my video camera and after a year, on seeing this post I finally decided to upload to share it here -
http://video.yahoo.com/wa...
I found this to be a ray of light in a dark tunnel as far as organized systematic garbage collection management is concerned. Here are the advantages I saw
1) what better way for eco friendly cost effective garbage collection than to use a cycle cart rather than having diesel guzzling, smoke spewing, noisy & expensive garbage trucks that block the roads ?
2) this has immense potential to generate a lot of employment and put to use many unskilled unemployed people.
Questions/concerns though -
1) Is this system capable of handling garbage collection in larger volumes on a larger scale such as the entire city of Bangalore quickly enough and effectively ?
2) once the garbage was collected in front of the house I have no clue where it goes ultimately, how it is handled and how it is processed.
But from what i saw and captured in the above video I am convinced that garbage collection overhaul that the author of this thread talks about is very much present in Bangalore (perhaps in a few streets) but it needs to be adopted on a wider scale and it has to be a part of the culture where people cannot do without it and will protest if there is no garbage collection as depicted in the video.
Street side wastes
What I saw was organized garbage collection
This exists in a lot of localities in Bangalore. This is for collecting household waste. A lot of point collection has been stream lined.
But the street side wastes are ones thrown by people on the move and in public spaces. This is where accessibility to trash cans are helpful, near junctions, near busstands, places where people congregate or stop to do something. A habit can form if people know they will find a can when they reach a junctionor bus stand etc. Enforcement can start if facilities are provided and people dont use it. It goes without saying even these cans need to be cleaned regularly.
Also when there is a charge for items we tend to attach a value and maximize by trying to recycle. So people will carry their plastic home if they paid for it. Most countries allow for payment on return of plastic and glass bottles. If we can put in a reward system people will do it. It works for newspaper it will work for plastic as well.
once the garbage was collected in front of the house I have no clue where it goes ultimately
Looks like even BBMP is trying to figure this one out. Its probably going where SY has been noticing.
re: street side wastes
This exists in a lot of localities in Bangalore. This is for collecting household waste. A lot of point collection has been stream lined.
I am just curious..how much is "a lot of localities in Bangalore" ? 5% or 20% or 50%? A few streets away from where this video was taken this system was absent. So was it in Jayanagar 9th block and Jayanagar 4th T Block near my cousin's place. It seemed to be absent in another part of Jayanagar 4th T block (after the state bank of India opp the bus depot make a left onto one of the side streets..at least in May 2008 there was an garbage bin overflowing with garbage and the street littered with garbage). To me it seemed like organized garbage collection and disposal (organized in the true sense as you see in most western countries with active&mandatory participation of the citizens plus garbage haulers actually doing their job) was largely absent in Bangalore save for a few streets (one of the street being the one on which I captured the video). No pun intended but to any individual riding around Bangalore the cities resembles an open garbage yard in most places wether we like it or not. (sorry for the rant)
maybe 20%
how much is "a lot of localities in Bangalore" ? 5% or 20% or 50%?
I have seen it in malleshwaram, mathikere, sanjaynagar, RMV and surrounding ares of ward 100, indiranagar, domlur, koramangala. I havent observed other areas maybe the others can bear me out here. They have moved to an autorickshaw from the push cart to collect garbage in Sanjaynagar and are regular every morning. There is much to be desired obviously and may have even deteriorated over the past year. It is also important to call BBMP if they start becoming irregular. We have had to remind them a few times when they slacked off.
To me it seemed like organized garbage collection and disposal was largely absent in Bangalore save for a few streets (one of the street being the one on which I captured the video)
Just curious, how much %age of Bangalore have you observed during garbage collection time other than the street you were on?
interesting praja thread
Interesting praja thread tied to the same topic of garbage disposal
http://bangalore.praja.in/discuss/forums/2009/03/there-are-no-dustbins-my-localitydamn
Segregate Garbage at the source
In field outside Bangalore, farmers get manure very cheaply! Its basically a truckload of garbage from the city! Its about 70% plastic and 30% Bio degradable waste! i'M not sure how good this is for the farmer!
But I think we have to start by segrating our garbage at home. In our apartment block, we have done that - we have a wet waste bin and a dry waste bin in the ground floor - which is handed over to a cart in the mornings.
Its a very simple step, just needs a bit of practic to walk a few steps to the right bin and drop it in. But it can go MILES in garbage collection!
The other most depressing and pathetic aspect of garbage collection in Bangalore is a state/equipment of the Garbage collectors. They are seated on a mound of stinking rot - for almost the entire day. they are not given adequate gloves or boots. They have a spade and age old can basket - and thats how our IT City collects the garbage.
The reason - coz BBMP doesnt enforce the contractors to equip the men/women with hygenic methods - sharing the booty gained between them! I will post some pictures of the current state tommorow. Its really depressing and an eye sore!
Lastly, people just dont care. If there is a garbage bin in the area - garbage will be all around it but inside! How do we change that? CCTV and Fines? There is a spit ridden sign that says "Throwing Garbage Fine 100 Rupees" - is anyone going trace the trash to the owner?
I think if there is money to be made from garbage -an option would be to share it with the consumer. Give him an incentive for segregating and packing his garbage. Something like the raddi fellow! If people are qilling to que up for hours at the bunk, if prices increase by 50 ps - then i think this would be equally effective!
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
Ban on plastic bags no solution: Jairam Ramesh
Ban on plastic bags no solution: Jairam Ramesh
It is the failure of the solid waste management by (the) local bodies that is forcing the state governments to ban the use of plastic bags
What a statement by an Environment Minister?
The whole world is crying hoarse to contain proliferation of non-bio degradable plastic. We even teach children to use less and less of plastic and learn to use natural organic things in our daily life.
The State Governments that have banned or are in the process of banning are more sensible in their actions/statements than the Central Government minister.
People should use the 4 Rs -
- Refuse
- Reuse
- Recycle and
- Return (to the source that gave you the plastic to make them responsible for disposa).
Finally, people must become the change they want to see. They want to have a clean environment in their precincts but do not mind adopting an audacious attitude while throwing their filth on street corners or in front of somebody else house.
I have had bitter experiences in front of my house in Rajajinagar. I had studied the pattern of dumping of garbage by people - it is early morning or late in the night. I even used to note who those persons are - after they would very neatly keep the garbage in the street corner, I used to collect that plastic bag, take it back to that house, neatly keep it inside their compounds with a note -
*Ninna holasu nanna mane munde yaake?* Some felt ashamed and waited for the garbage collector but those who were shameless continued to dump it on the street/footpath.
I even suggested an idea - we pay taxes to authorities for not getting proper services including collection of garbage; why not walk a few more steps and keep all our garbage packets inside the compound of the ward office in our area so that we can keep our area clean and also help the authorities to clear the garbage from a centralised place? I have done it and many have followed.
In the meantime, let us arrest the proliferation of plastic by reusing them and converting them into useful articles like quilt/pillow/playing balls/ stuffed toys etc., as suggested in my earlier post above.
- vasanth mysoremath
garbage collection
Normal 0
ssheragu
I am fully in agreement with the views of blrpraj and vasanth mysoremath
I have written a lot many things a lot many times on this subject. I will save them for la later date and try to suggest three important requirements / necesities to start with.
1. to expunge the worg scavenger or garbage collector from our dictionary and call him as a HEALTH INSPECTOR - this way we will not be reckless with our garbage and we will ensure its safe disposal without dirtying our house or the environment
2. to ensure that he comes in a CLEAN ATTIRE while picking the garbage (doing his duty) and has PROPER PROTECTIVE GEAR AND PROTECTION LIKE GLOVES, PLASTIC APRON, RUBBER BOOTS, PLAIN GLASSES etc. - in this way he will be respectable and will be respected.
3. to give hin incentives like A FREE BDA SITE AND MONEY FOR HIS HOUSE CONSTRUTION after a certian number of years of service - this way it i enusred that he gets the hazardous allowance due ti him and we canhold him accountable for hiswork
It is high time that like minded praja members got together on this and did something for garbage disposal in Bangalore
many thanks
Srinath Heragu
BBMP has some plans for a garbage free Gandinagar
Read that BBMP has some plans to make Gandhinagar a "zero-garbage" zone
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/20412/no-garbage-area-planned.html
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=%E2%80%98Zero+garbage+zone%E2%80%
Does anyone here know why our BBMP has an aversion to dustbins? If you walk along residential localities you will find some tacit garbage dumping points - plastic packets all over, stray dogs all around. Given that the local community has identified that spot as a dumping spot and people walk till there to throw the rubbish, cant we put a dustbin?
Or are they worried that dustbins can be used to hide bombs, etc? Os that these will be stolen?
Srivathsa
Drive safe. It is not just the car maker which can recall its product.