Recycling Habba highlights the importance of the 3 Rs—Recyle, Reduce, Reuse n 25 plants to process 10 tonnes of plastic every day.
Bangalore resembles a giant garbage dumpyard a day after every festival. Even otherwise, residents of almost every other locality complain of garbage decaying at a crossing, or an empty plot. As per the 2011 census, more than 84 lakh people live in Bangalore and this populace, the city corporation says, generates more than 3,500 tonnes of garbage every day.
Taking note of the challenge of handling garbage in the city, the authorities have, for the first time, organised Recycling Habba. It highlights the importance of the three Rs—Recyle, Reduce, Reuse. Solid Waste Management Round Table (SWMRT) has organised it along with Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), BBMP and Karnataka High Court Legal Services Committee.
The habba was kicked off at the KSPCB auditorium, Chruch Street, on Monday. At its inauguration, BBMP commissioner Siddaiah said the issue needs immediate attention. He said under the habba, they would draw up plans to make Bangalore garbage-free.
Turning plastic into crude oil
To achieve the aim, Siddaiah said, the BBMP is planning to set up bio-mechanised plants that will have the capacity to process 10 tonnes of plastic every day and convert it into crude oil. He said the plants would be set up in a phased manner and altogether, there would be 25 such plants for 198 wards. He added that the BBMP would soon make a policy, mandating people to segregate garbage in their homes.
KSPCB chairman AS Sadashivaiah said the pollution control board would meet all sections of the society soon. He said SWMRT had already reached out to 25,000 homes in the city this year and the KSPCB wanted to take the number to one lakh. He said the board would be meeting the people in charge of hotels, hostels, clubs, weddings halls, apartments and hospitals, where waste is generated on a large scale.
Sadashivaiah said the BBMP must not only recognise the ragpicker but must give them uniforms, gloves and masks to make their job easier.
The SWMRT and KSPCB gave an award to Lakshmi, a ragpicker, for her efforts to keep the city clean. She said she is one of the 25,000 rag pickers who toil every day to keep the city clean. “Each of us collects over 20 to 30 kg of waste every day and yet people look down upon us. Through this, we are given some recognition,” she said.
As a part of the habba, various awareness programmes will be held across the city from November 1 to 13.
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