No bin policy: Mumbai's H West Ward leads the way

In a race to make the city bin-free, H West Ward (Bandra west, Khar west) has bagged the first spot. According to BMC data, not a single garbage bin can be seen in this ward despite having slum pockets.

There were more than 70 garbage bins in the slum areas of H West Ward. "To make the area free garbage, the BMC started door-to-door garbage collection two to three times a day. This stopped people from throwing garbage on any other spot," said Vidya Vaidya, an activist, and social worker.

There are total 77 garbage spots in Bandra west and Khar west, but not a single bin. The BMC has alloted skip loaders to these spots to collect garbage. These vehicle comes in two to three times a day as per demand and collects garbage directly from residential areas and community workers. Mumtaj Khan, local corporator of Ward 102 told DNA, "We frequently do awareness campaigns in ward. There was big garbage spot on Chapel Road, near Jeff Caterers. Though few miscreants would through garbage on road despite BMC's door-to-door garbage collection. Then the local people took initiative and painted the wall. Now this area has become a parking space for residents."

Mulund and Borivali, Kandivali area are not far behind. While Mulund has only 7 bins, Borivali and Kandivali have 52 and 58 garbage bins respectively. Malad, Mankhurd, Bandra, Kurla have a different story.

On one side Bandra west gets free of garbage bins, Bandra east cannot eliminate 93 community garbage bins in near future, at least civic body officials feel so. Dense slum areas in Makhurd-Govandi, Kurla and Malad have also posed a challenge in implementation of 'no bin' policy.