Mahabubnagar municipality had started the Dry waste purchase programme to achieve the source segregation of the waste. There are so many operational problems in this programme. We have tried to find the solutions. They are as follows :
1. Some people are mixing the waste. They are not handing over the dry waste alone. It is hampering the quality of Dry waste.
Solution: pamphlets are distributed. elucidated what is dry waste and what is wet waste. The waste is segregated in front of the households. Meetings are conducted and clarified what is wet waste and dry waste.
2. Some people not accepted to receive the 1 Rupee for dry waste.
This is a serious problem. It was explained during the meetings that money is given as incentive. Workers can receive the dry waste free of cosy, if someone is not interested in selling.
3. Some people are refusing to come and sell at certain points.
Workers were instructed to move to each house for the comfort of households. The number of workers were increased to achieve this objective.
4. The increment in purchasing was not substantial in some areas.
Sol: In veerannapet and shahsaheb gutta , the dry waste was not increased . Awareness meetings were conducted. Pamphlets were distributed.
5. Some people are not handing over the dry waste and still habituate to throw it in drains.
It was instructed to Jawans to identify such Households and put a cross mark on their house with Red marker pen. Some people were personally warned.
6. The tools and plants are not provided properly.
Whistles, spring balance of 5 kg, Bags, vehicles are nessessary. The same was provided compolsurily after some initiatial problems.
7.Some people thought that dry waste purchase programme is a worker intensive.
In the initial stages it is a worker intensive. Once the collection of dry waste is stabilised, the desiltation of drains were not that required. In Yedira it use to take 5 to 6 days to clean a drain on rotation basis. After the initiative it only 2 to 3 days for drain cleaning. Astonishingly, one of our Jawans have got cleaned the Appanapally Bridge after a long gap of 2 years with the existing labour as drain cleaning time was substantially reduced.
8. Some people thought whether this programme is sustainable as revenue can be generated out of this waste.
The waste was not purchased as it is in Mahabubnagar as was the case in khammam. Again 3 workers have to be deployed to segregate further. Subsequently, it was sold. On an average, 2 to 3 rupees per kilogram was obtained. Also, some philanthropists have donated IEC material. Hence, it was self sustainable.
9. Some staff had asked whether this much process is required for waste collection
Sol: It was explained that source segregation is mandatory as per Solid Waste Management Rules- 2000. This dry waste purchase programme is only a fecilitating aspect. In commercial areas the whole work is dealt differently without payment.
10. Sanitation staff was facing difficulties in convincing households and they lack support of people.
Sol: Wherever problems are identified, awareness meetings are organised for explaining the advantages. Also, 30 R. Ps are also trained to motivate people and sanitation committees are formed to assist sanitation staff.
