13/05/2024
GARBAGE MANAGEMENT & DISPOSAL
For Housing/ Apartment Societies:
A. Quick-fix solution:
1. Identify suitable spot in society for designation as main trash collection spot, ensuring segregation complying with laws and municipal requirements. Install or construct large size trash bins with arrangements for regular cleaning and washing and drainage, keeping different weather conditions in mind throughout the year.
2. Seal the garbage ducts in all buildings.
3. Arrange for sufficient number of wheeled garbage trolleys, each holding one green and one blue bin of sufficient size (approx 150-200 liters each) such that trolley can fit easily in the lifts. Also a separate smaller add-on bin, for used diapers/sanitary pads/medical waste.
4. At a designated hour for each building every day, the trolley be taken floor by floor and Organic and Inorganic trash collected from each flat into the designated bins. The staff may be instructed to examine the trash bins for proper segregation before accepting and refuse to collect the trash if not properly segregated. This should be followed strictly.
5. Once trash for each building is collected (within the designated time) it may be emptied in the suitable bins at the designated main trash collection spot before moving on to next building.
6. A designated sanitary worker supervisor may ensure that the municipal truck collect the entire trash without leaving residues, and arrange for washing of all the organic trash bins as well as the main organic trash collection bin, and subsequently lay them out suitably for drying.
B. Long term solution:
The law requires societies generating over 100kg of organic trash per day to dispose of the same at their own level by installing proper composting systems. Sooner, rather than later, the municipal authorities will enforce this.
Once the above Quick-fix solution is in place and working satisfactorily, the next step may be for the society to invest in Composting machines (preferably more than one) ensuring sufficient capacities for redundancy and emergencies.
In addition a suitable medical waste incinerator may also be installed for disposal of used diapers, sanitary pads and other medical waste. Here again, the principle of arranging for redundancy and emergencies be considered.
Society may collect a one time charge from each flat to finance the garbage management system/composting machines, and thereafter if necessary, an incremental monthly maintenance on this account.
Society may also consider policy regarding disposal of larger quantity /volume waste such as construction waste, wood and metal waste and residual waste from parties/ community events etc.
The residents may co-operate as follows:
Collect daily garbage in two bins designated ‘Organic’ and ‘Inorganic’.
All kitchen waste to go into the ‘Organic’ bin.
All other waste (with the exception of glass or electronic waste) to go into the ‘Inorganic’ bin.
Glass and electronic waste may be directly handed over at the Society Main trash collection spot on a weekly basis.
Ensure that no plastic, metal, plastic coated paper, foil, wrapping paper, glass etc are put into the ‘Organic’ bin. Liquid organic waste should be avoided.
Used Diapers/ sanitary pads / medical waste may be collected separately and wrapped in newspaper/ brown paper etc.
Keep the household trash / bins ready and attend to the collection call/ bell of the sanitation workers without delay. A good practice may be to leave the trash bins outside flat door at the designated trash collection time.
