Mumbai: Get set to segregate medical and chemical waste

Swapnil Housing Society in Borivli is among those served the notice by the BMC. All buildings in city to receive notices

After dry and wet waste segregation, the BMC has now started asking housing societies to separate domestic hazardous waste, such as chemical and medical waste, too. Civic officials told mid-day that the move was enacted as such waste, which includes broken thermometers, medicines, batteries, colours, chemical spray, disinfectant spray, blades, sanitary pads, diapers, etc, not only pose a threat of fire incidents in dumping grounds, but also can harm the cleaners. Some housing societies in Borivli are among the first to get the notice.

The circular issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has mandated that societies keep domestic hazardous waste in a separate black or red bin for easy identification. The societies have been given 15 days to start implementing the same, failing which the civic body will start levying fine. However, the fine amount has not been decided yet.

Swapnil Housing Society in Borivli got the BMC notice 2-3 days ago

Civic officials told mid-day that they would collect the hazardous waste and keep it separately at the time of collecting dry waste. They added that the BMC will get separate garbage trucks for the waste and decide on the frequency of these soon. A BMC official told mid-day, "Many cleaners were injured while collecting garbage from housing societies as the waste had blades and dangerous chemicals. Batteries and other inflammable liquids increase the chances of fire in dumping ground too. So, these should be kept and disposed of separately."

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The BMC notice read, "Society should segregate dry, wet and domestic hazardous waste at the society. Wet waste includes fruits, vegetables and remaining foods and societies should keep this garbage in a green dustbin. Dry waste includes papers, slippers, tyre, furniture, cloths, mirror, rubber, thermocol, ceramic, foam and these should be kept in a blue dustbin. And the third is domestic hazardous waste, which includes broken thermometers, medicines, batteries, colours, chemical spray, disinfectant spray, blades, sanitary pads and diapers. This waste should be kept in red or black dustbin. If society fails to do it they will be fined accordingly."

Swapnil Housing Society in Borivli is among the societies that received the notice. Society secretary Ravindra Vaidya told mid-day, "We got the notice two-three days ago. Currently, we segregate wet and dry waste at the society but this will have to change now. We have informed all society members about keeping domestic hazardous waste separately and we will also hold a meeting on this topic. The BMC has our full support."

Official Speak

Sandhya Nandedkar, assistant commissioner of R Central ward, told mid-day, "We have started sending notices to societies in our ward asking them to segregate domestic hazardous waste. This move will start across the city soon. We received the guidelines from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board."

"Currently, we have vehicles to collect dry and wet waste. We will soon get separate vehicles for hazardous waste too. If societies follow the guidelines properly, it will not only help deal with the waste but will also help control pollution," she added.

The BMC has asked societies to keep domestic hazardous waste in a black or red dustbin for easy identification. Representation pic

The BMC had earlier instructed all housing societies and establishments in the city to segregate dry and wet waste. It also stated that all societies constructed after 2007, or those having an area more than 20,000 square feet or societies with more than 100 flats will have to compost their wet waste themselves. However, there has not been much difference on the ground.

A lot of societies have been facing trouble with composting their own waste and complained that the BMC is also not collecting garbage. mid-day had earlier reported how BMC stopped collecting garbage from a Kandivli society.

When mid-day raised concerns about the dry and wet waste segregated by societies getting mixed together at the time of collection by civic body's vehicle, Nandedkar said, "We either collect the wastes separately in two different vehicles or in separate compartments of the same vehicle to ensure they do not get mixed." She added, "However, we have never seen a complete segregation by societies yet and our cleaners have to separate the waste. This is a big issue, but we cannot force the citizens."

Voices

Ravindra Vaidya, secretary, Swapnil Housing Society
‘We got the notice two-three days ago. Currently, we segregate wet and dry waste at the society but this will have to change now. We have informed all society members about keeping domestic hazardous waste separately and we will also hold a meeting on this topic. The BMC has our full support'

Sandhya Nandedkar, assistant commissioner, R Central ward
‘Currently, we have vehicles to collect dry and wet waste. We will soon get separate vehicles for hazardous waste too. If societies follow the guidelines properly, it will not only help deal with the waste but will also help control pollution'

What are domestic hazardous waste

Broken thermometers
Medicines
Batteries
Colours/paints
Chemical spray
Disinfectant spray
Blades
Sanitary pads
Diapers

15
Time (in days) BMC gave to societies to follow instructions