The Administration has taken many initiatives to develop an effective system of waste disposal in the city. From making the city bin-free to banning polythene bags and having sehaj safai kendras (SSKs), various kinds of efforts have been made. There is a need, however, to improve the waste segregation system.In the House Meet held last month, Union Minister of State for Finance, Pawan Kumar Bansal, said that the waste could be segregated at the source. He stated that a start could be made from the markets. Different coloured bins should be marked for degradable waste, non-biodegradable waste and glass. This would ensure adequate disposal, he suggested. At present, door-to-door collection of waste is being undertaken, which is then taken to the sehaj safai kendras where it is segregated. There is also a proposal to have SSKs in every sector. The waste segregation system at the SSKs is, however, not very effective. From here, the waste is then processed at the Solid Waste Management Plant in Dadumajra. Professor R K Kohli, Director, Centre for Environmental Studies, Panjab University, says, “The best solution to the problem is to segregate waste at the source. The scrap dealers should also be made more aware. Also, pellets, which are the end products at the Solid Waste Management Plant, are presently being used in the cement industry. From a conservation point of view, this is not a very good option. The pellets are organic wastes which could be used as fertlizers.” Putting to rest speculation that more trees would be cut for making paper bags due to the polythene-ban, Prof Kohli says, “Fibres are used for making paper bags. The paper that is used is essentially made from various kinds of grass. Certain trees like eucalyptus and poplar are also used. It will not harm the environment in any way.”
