BMC ramps up garbage cleanup initiatives

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ramped up its garbage clean-up initiatives, with a recent focus on clearing debris from the city's beaches following heavy monsoon rains and high tides. The civic body has also introduced new policies aimed at overhauling the city's waste management system, including taking direct control of waste collection from large generators.

Monsoon beach cleanups yield 952-metric tonnes of waste

The clean-up operation was a direct response to the accumulation of waste, including large amounts of plastic, which was carried into the sea by the Mithi River and other nullahs during recent downpours and subsequently deposited on the coastline by high tides.

The clean-up was carried out by a dedicated force of approximately 380 BMC employees and six machines, working to restore the cleanliness of the popular beaches. The largest amount of waste, 375-metric tonnes, was collected from Juhu Beach, followed by Dadar-Mahim (300-metric tonnes) and Versova (200-metric tonnes). The cleanliness drive is now a regular feature whenever the skies clear after heavy rainfall, according to a civic official.

BMC overhauls waste management system

Beyond the immediate clean-up efforts, the BMC is implementing changes to its long-term waste management strategy. The civic body is now taking over the direct collection of waste from residential and commercial 'bulk generators', such as large housing societies and commercial complexes. The move effectively bans third-party agencies that were previously contracted for this service.

This decision was made after inspections revealed that many of these private agencies were not processing the waste scientifically and were instead illegally dumping it. The BMC will now transport wet waste to the Kanjurmarg dumping ground and dry waste to its segregation centers.

Additionally, the BMC is planning to introduce a new user fee for solid waste management to cover the costs of collection and processing. The proposed fee is expected to be approximately INR 100 for a 500-sq ft home, with higher charges applicable to larger properties and commercial establishments. This is projected to generate INR 687-crore annually and aligns with central government mandates for solid waste management.

In a creative approach to waste, the BMC has also opened a new unit in Bhubaneswar to convert flower waste from Ganesh Chaturthi into incense sticks, preventing it from choking drains and polluting water bodies. This initiative is expected to process approximately two-tonnes of flower waste daily.