At an international workshop on resource efficiency and development policy recently, a spokesperson of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) held forth on the steps the organisation has taken to spruce up solid waste management systems. Why then do we still have mounds of garbage in every colony? Periodically we hear of initiatives where garbage pickers have been roped in to segregate garbage, reportedly 62 million tonnes annually. However, this is making a difference only in isolated pockets.

A year ago, the Government revised the solid waste management rules bringing into its fold industrial townships, harbours, ports, defence establishments, places of pilgrimage and historical importance, among others. The environment minister said that generators of waste will now have to pay a user-fee to the waste collector and a spot fine for littering and non-segregation of waste. He also warned that by 2030 the annual waste would increase to 165 million tonnes. However, on the ground, little has changed. Some swanky toilets have come up in “clean and green” Delhi, but other than that mounds of garbage continue to pile and segregation remains a pipe-dream. What stops the CPCB and the Government to simply mandate every Residents’ Welfare Association to segregate garbage or pay a massive fine? Then, only slums and unauthorised colonies will be left to tackle.

RWAs usually have the funds and the capacity to plan, streamline and ensure segregation. The CPCB can insist that RWAs set up separate bins for kitchen garbage and dry garbage, and hire one person to collect kitchen waste from those who cannot leave home or access the bins. It should also mandate composting of kitchen waste by RWAs. They could use the manure they need and sell the excess. For segregated dry waste there are enough outlets. Once made mandatory, this will soon become the routine procedure, as it is in other countries. But who will bell the CPCB?

Associate Editor

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