BBMP is gearing up to improve its C&D waste collection system to reduce air pollution in the city.
In the first phase, the BBMP will conduct a city-wide removal of C&D waste. The BBMP has floated a proposal to remove C&D waste lying on Bengaluru streets on a one-time basis to initiate citizens towards disposing of such waste. While the city generates around 3,000 tonnes of C&D waste per day, only 25 tonnes reach BBMP’s C&D waste collection plants in a month.
“The National Action Plan for Climate Change mandates the reduction of air pollution in the city. As per the 15th finance commission grants of the government, funds must be utilised to improve air quality. For this, BBMP has earmarked close to Rs 272 crore. According to studies, 60% of the pollution is from the transport sector and dust are major contributors. To tackle the issue we are developing micro plans,” said BBMP Special Commissioner (SWM) Dr Harish Kumar.
In the second phase, it will look at the collection and processing of waste in C&D waste plants. Around Rs 20 crore will be earmarked for the development of more plants. Currently, BBMP has three plants in the city. As per the plan, BBMP will also look at replacing its waste transport vehicles with sustainable modes. “We will use more mechanised sweeping machines to clear the dust. After sweeping, we will use more jetting machines to settle it,” added Kumar.
He added that ideally bulk waste generators like corporate builders should be directly given to processing plants and smaller waste generators are helped with transportation.
Dr Pratima Singh, Research Scientist leading the Center for Air Pollution Studies at CSTEP said that C&D waste contributes to PM 10 particles. “All the vehicles openly carrying construction material contribute to ambient pollution. Wet mud at the construction sites gets stuck to truck wheels and contributes to the resuspension of dust. The mixing of construction materials like cement, fine sand and brick dust get resuspended in the atmosphere.”
C&D plant operators complain that very little waste is arriving at the plants. “Almost 70% of the waste comes from corporate builders. Builders, contractors, BMRCL, etc are not availing this facility. Bengaluru generates around 4,000 tonnes per day but we have only received 25 tonnes last month. Even SMART City projects are not utilising recycled waste. Most of the waste is being dumped in a low-lying area and water channels, contributing to urban flooding,” said Rajesh K, co-owner of Rock Crystal, a BBMP-authorised C&D recycling plant. Rock Crystal runs two plants with the capacity of processing 1,000 MT/day.
Citizen activists highlighted the need to incentivise citizens. “Without proper penalising and enforcement of the rules, C&D finds its way into lake buffer areas, rajakaluves, and forest areas. BBMP also needs to find a way to incentivise people,” said Sandeep Anirudhan, a city-based social activist.
