Not many takers for small bin drive

“This is a good scheme,as the BMC goes door-to-door to collect garbage; waste management will be better if the societies have these easy bins,” said Rahul Shevale who had ordered 150 bins last year and plans to order more bins this year. “Citizens have been demanding this facility,but the councillor funds are mostly spent on storm water drains or road projects. This doesn’t get sufficient attention,” he said.

The official said the Parivartan scheme,which was initiated in 2005,had been stalled for some time and the distribution process started only last year. The process of distributing small wheeler bins,also called easy bins,began in August 2009. These bins are of 120-240 litres capacity. A 120-litre bin costs anything between Rs 1,500-1,800 while a 240-litre bin costs between Rs 2,200-2,500.

Under the scheme,the ward offices provide wheeler bins to corporators of areas demanding them. Later,the corporators deposit these dustbins in their areas,wherever they feel it is required. The cost will be borne out of councillors’ funds.

As many as 15,000 wheeler bins were distributed to residential societies through corporators from August 2009 to March 31,2010. The maximum demand last year came from K-west ward (Andheri) — 2,275 bins,P North ward (Malad) 1,300 bins and R Central Ward (Borivali) 1,250.

Solid Waste Management Department (SWD) officials said this was being done with an aim to segregate dry and wet waste at the source itself. “Also,the community bins that are usually used are kept outside residential societies on main roads and has a lot of garbage littered around,which is more unhygienic.”

“We are aiming for the treatment of dry waste in residential societies itself. “Ideally,every housing complex should have two bins,one for dry waste and the other for wet waste. And this means less burden on the dumping ground.”