BMC to set up compost facility at vegetable mkts, to compost around 46 mt per day

Taking a step forward, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to manage waste of four important vegetable and flower markets inside the market premises instead of sending it to dumping yards. The civic body will set up four composting plants at these markets.

The BMC has planned to set up composting plants at the vegetable market in Dadar, Malad, and Borivali, and the flower market in Dadar. At present, the civic body is preparing the tender for the same. "We have studied these markets and depending on the quantity of waste generated, we will soon float tenders to buy composting plants," said a senior official from the Market department of BMC.

These four markets generate around 46 metric tonnes of garbage per day, which is currently sent to a dumping ground. "We have decided to compost the waste generated in the market inside the premises itself," said the official.

Last week, senior civic officials held a meeting with traders of these markets and inform them about the initiative. "We have sought help from the traders to move towards managing waste at the source and ensure that no waste from the market goes to dumping yards," the official said.

At present, around 7,500 metric tonnes of garbage is generated every day in Mumbai, and a very less is composted; most of it finds a place in the three dumping grounds. "In the past year, through various measures, we have been able to bring down waste generation from 8,400 metric tonnes," said an official from the solid waste management department of BMC. He added that this new proposed facility will further bring down the amount of garbage dumped.

The BMC has installed a total of 32 waste composting facilities across the city.