ADB-aided project of waste segregation partially successful
SHILLONG: Is the ADB project of distributing waste bins to households in Shillong serving its purpose?
Though two waste bins of different colours were given to each household with the intention to promote the idea of segregation of garbage on the doorstep, many are using the bins to store household commodities.
When contacted, officials who are supervising the project admitted that there have been several cases of misuse of the dustbins even though they were distributed to inculcate the habit of segregation of household waste in the residents of Shillong.
Each household was given a green waste bin for bio-degradable, or wet waste, and a blue one for non-biodegradable, or dry waste.
“Awareness programmes have been organised but some people are simply not changing their behaviour,” officials said, adding that the respective Dorbar Shnong and the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) must take action against people who misuse the bins and continue to add to the litter of the city.
According to officials, 20-30 people have been fined in the recent past for violating the SMB rules on waste management practices but more needs to be done.
Replying to a query, officials, however, said the distribution of bins is a huge success in 21 out of 38 localities under the municipal areas. Officials also informed that a small compost plant has been constructed at Marten and it has produced around 45,000-46,000 kg of compost.
Officials also informed that the project is facing some challenges in 17 localities, which are basically of mixed population where people simply don’t obey the orders about the segregation of waste in the colour-coded dustbins.
It may be mentioned that around 63,000 blue-green bins were distributed among 31,674 households in the municipal areas.
Meanwhile, the bins will be shortly distributed among another 50,000 households in non-municipal areas in the city.
Officials said bins are ready and some localities would shortly sign the agreement with the Government.
The bins were supposed to be distributed in 62 localities of the city which are non-municipal areas but 10 of them have decided not to participate in the exercise since those localities are very remote and the project is not viable.
The initiative was launched by the Asian Development Bank in partnership with the State Government to promote segregation of waste on the doorstep of residents.