BMC to install more waste converters

Mumbai: Considering the severity of the waste management iss-ue in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had, last year, decided to carry out in situ management of the waste generated in its markets.

Accordingly, four organic waste converters (OWC) were installed in four municipal markets with a capacity of 27.5 metric tonnes. The BMC is going one step ahead and installing more OWCs this year with the capacity to handle 41.40 metric tonn-es of waste in its 67 markets, for which a provision of Rs 15 crore is made in the civic budget of 2019-20.

The BMC has 92 municipal markets in the city and eastern and western suburbs, which generate around 76 metric tonnes of garbage daily. All this garbage used to go the Mulund, Kanjurmarg and Deonar dumping grounds. However, in October last year, the BMC announced the closure of the Mulund dumping ground.

The four OWCs installed last year are situated at Dadar’s vegetable and flower markets and Borivali and Malad’s municipal markets. “The four OWCs are already successfully commi-ssioned. This year Rs 15 crore has been provided in the budget for the maintenance of the existing machines and purchase of 16 more machines in 67 municipal markets,” said Sangita Hansale, assistant municipal commissioner (markets).

OWCs convert waste into natural fertilisers. The collection and composting of waste in the markets itself will also help clear garbage piling outside markets and save on the cost of transporting garbage to dumping grounds.

The BMC has stated that any complex producing more than 100 kg of garbage per day or set up on an area of more than 20,000 sq metres must segregate waste and install composting machines on their premises.