Dumpsters to be phased out in the city soon

Following a circular from the Directorate of Municipal Administration, Mysore City Corporation (MCC) is preparing to phase out the use of dumpsters, kept at several points in the city for waste segregation.

The move is aimed at encouraging door to door collection of waste and to increase the efficacy of waste segregation in the city. According to officials, there are around 260 dumpsters, placed in different wards of the city.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Dr Ramachandra, MCC Health Officer said that the motive of the whole exercise is to ensure that waste generated in the city is directly transferred to waste segregation plants distributed around the city.

“The dumpsters act as secondary points for waste segregation inside the city limits, which also are a source of pollution. Moreover, the indiscriminate dumping of waste around such containers rather than inside it, poses a threat to domestic animals,” he said. The practice of dumping will be stopped with the removal of these, he said.

Environmental Engineer Vijay, said that no specific time limit had been set for the exercise. “We have been directed to remove the dumpsters in a phased manner. The circular also directs against procuring new containers and recommends buying vehicles for waste collection,” he said.

Another benefit of phasing out the dumpsters, he said, was that lifting of waste multiple time at different points in the city will be avoided. He added that measures to implement the circular had been initiated, and the process of phasing out will start soon.

M B Jagadish, member of Standing Committee on Public Health and Education said that even though there are directions regarding the same, the committee is yet to receive the guidelines regarding its implementation. “The measure will improve zero waste management practices in the city. However, creating an awareness about the issue is essential before implementing the same,” he said. “After several awareness programmes, residents of the city at least dump the waste near the containers.

Campaigns will be held to encourage the residents to dispose waste during door to door collection,” he said.

To a question, he said that door to door waste collection was yet to succeed in the city. “MCC will require more vehicles to effectively implement it. A tender has been floated in this regard,” he said.