Solid Waste Management | BBMP | Procedure & Problems Faced

BBMP Solid Waste Management

If one day, the garbage collection vehicle doesn’t come, we Bangaloreans start worrying. Yes or No. Definitely yes. Have you ever wondered how BBMP manages the waste of the city? I was just thinking and decided to write down the post regarding this. Just brief info and the struggles of the BBMP.

What is BBMP or what do they do?

The BBMP- Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike

The Greater Bengaluru Metropolitan Area’s civic amenities and some infrastructural resources are administered by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). It is the fourth-largest municipal corporation in India and is in charge of 6.8 million people living in a 741 km2 region. More than 29 lakh homes are distributed throughout the city’s 198 wards, 8 zones, and 27 divisions. These are some of the numbers for your reference.

We all only know that BBMP collects the waste and dumps at the place, but as the citizens of Bengaluru, don’t know how the segregation and the process happens. It is not an easy job at all. Thanks to every single person who is involved in keeping the city clean.

What is solid waste management?

The word “solid waste management” primarily describes the entire procedure of gathering, treating, and discarding solid wastes. The process of waste management involves gathering rubbish from various sources and disposing of it. This procedure involves gathering, moving, treating, analyzing, and disposing of garbage.

Current Disposal And Management Procedures

Bangalore currently has 198 wards. The office in charge of disposing of solid waste, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), is working on several initiatives to provide the city with a strong SWM framework by combining a variety of approaches, including resident participation, investment in appropriate infrastructure, and technology, as well as observing the various frameworks that are currently dealing with the current mix of technology.

The city has been divided into several distinct sections for a more profitable and advantageous strategy, the most basic of which is the health ward; as of today, there are 294 health wards inside the BMP structures. A political organization that addresses the basic unit of organization is composed of a few prosperity wards. There are now 100 such political or regulatory wards in Bangalore. Additionally, a reach is a moderate unit made up of two to four wards. Within the city, 30 Ranges divide a grouping into the South, East, and West zones.

Two departments within the BBMP, the Engineering Department and the Health Department were drawn in by the strong waste management. The primary responsibilities of the health office are the collection, transportation, and removal of municipal garbage. The BMMP Engineering Department is in charge of removing construction and demolition waste while providing specialized and physical support to the health office.

To stop the spread of disease, reduce the aesthetic effects of purifying organic matter, and dispose of the discarded materials in an environmentally friendly manner, solid waste management strives to quickly remove disposed materials from owned location

Collection– The debris is assembled on auto tippers and wheelbarrows during the initial stage, which is known as a prompt assortment. Every 1000 household units are required to have an auto tipper, and every 200 families are required to have a truck. For house-to-house collection, street clearance, and MSW transportation, the BBMP and legally mandated experts are using about 20,000 pourakarmikas. The garbage collected from the families is taken to a routine location, i.e., discretionary zones, from whence it is transported through tipping lorries and compactors to the treatment or landfill regions. At the gate, doorstep, or closest common access point, the BBMP will arrange for the daily collection of wet garbage. The BBMP has further advised individuals to discharge wet garbage into the nearest access point, bins supplied to residents’ doorsteps. BBMP has also announced or made a rule not to mix wet waste and dry waste.

Transportation

Waste administration requires the transportation of waste from collection points to the final disposal facility or landfill. Pushcarts, cars, and other vehicles are currently used to deliver waste to important collecting facilities. Trucks then collect the rubbish and deliver it to the landfill.

Disposal Units

Every day, 4500 tonnes of waste is produced in Bangalore, comprising waste from homes as well as waste from businesses, hospitals, and other facilities. Bangalore is capable of processing 2100 tonnes of municipal trash every day, on average. Terra Firme has a capacity of 1500 t/d, Mavallipura has a capacity of 600 t/d, and Karnataka Composting Development Corporation Ltd (KCDC) has a capacity of 300 t/d. The remaining waste will be disposed of in Bingipura and Lakhimpura. Since Bingipura and Laxmipura were in a quarry pit zone without a handling unit, it was used for filling. Nearly all of the landfill’s available space is taken up. In Kannalli, Seegehalli, Lingadheeranahalli, Doddabidarakallu, Subbarayanapalya, Chikkanagamangala, KCDC, and MSGP, there are wet garbage processing facilities.

>South Bingipura, Mavallipura, KCDC

>East MSGP, Mavallipura, KCDC

>West Terra firma, Mavallipura, KCDC

>Yelahanka Mavallipura, Terrafirma

>Bommanahalli Bingipura, Laxmipura

>Mahadevapura Terrafirma

>Dasarahalli MSGP

>RR Nagara MSGP/Terraferms

These are the 8 zones and the disposal method. There are 3 types of disposal, one is the landfill method, KCDC MSGP OR Terrafirms

Some of the waste management has been allotted to Karnataka Compost Development Corporation, Material solid waste for a green planet, and terra firms.

The goal of Dry Garbage Collection Centers (DWCCs) is to help make waste more profitable and valuable by keeping as much waste out of landfills and waste dumps as feasible. Decentralized bulk sorting and processing facilities are known as DWCCs, and they are operated by different agencies in Bengaluru in collaboration with the BBMP. For effective operation, DWCCs are built up on municipal, government, and private lands with the support of numerous NGOs, waste pickers, and contractors. The dry waste produced in the wards is collected, further classified, and transferred to various recycling facilities for recycling.

Why solid waste Management is Failing In Bengaluru

Due to outdated garbage disposal methods and inadequate infrastructure, Bengaluru is currently experiencing serious issues. Additionally, open dumping in the city’s expansion zone causes serious issues for the structures built on these old dumps. Bangalore lacks facilities for the rational handling of solid waste generated by local businesses and municipalities. Due to this, a few illegal and unlicensed dump protests have gained traction in Bangalore.

Drawbacks in the current waste management system

Instead of making plans, Bangalore should improve its waste management system. Approximately 60% of Bangalore’s residential waste is collected, while only 15% is handled and treated. because of the network’s lack of mindfulness and the escape clauses in the current waste management solutions. Even collected waste is frequently not separated. The community and the contracted personnel in charge of collecting and transporting the garbage are not solely accountable for this. They not only don’t separate the garbage they gather, but also unlawfully dump them in unapproved regions to increase their profit and lower transportation costs.

Because there hasn’t been enough preparation at the national and local levels, municipal planning to put the plan into action has been disregarded. Projects for waste treatment are typically managed by several ministries or departments. The project failed as a result of the lack of coordination. An integrated system can be developed with the assistance of various government departments or agencies working together.

Solid waste workers face challenging working conditions because they are paid less and receive less training in poor nations. These employees run the danger of contracting illnesses or injuries at work due to a lack of proper training and private protective equipment. According to studies, a significant portion of workers involved in waste management or who live close to disposal sites run the risk of contracting worms or parasites. Staff members quit early because they lack the drive to work hard. Lack of cooperation among many stakeholders is causing illegal dumping, incorrect waste segregation, and other dangerous developments.

Since recyclables, yard garbage, municipal solid waste, and other materials need to be collected and transported in order to be managed, transportation is a crucial component of solid waste management activities. The selection of a waste collection and transportation method is influenced by the kind, source, and appropriate management technique of the solid waste.

The establishment of a productive, sanitary landfill and customer-focused solid waste collection and disposal is a crucial element of a trustworthy and well-run solid waste management system. Residents in all cities are given access to waste collection services by either private or self-government organizations. While this is going on, most communities’ disposal expenses as a percentage of total service prices continue to rise due to the city’s rapid increase in disposal charges as well as the expense of waste collection and transfer.

Because many elements must be taken into account and a variety of collection and transfer alternatives are available, waste systems for collection and transfer are frequently complex and difficult to design. The community’s involvement is crucial to the effectiveness of the MSWM system. Municipal officials haven’t been able to organize the neighborhood or instruct residents on how to properly handle waste or store it in their homes, businesses, or other locations.

Citizens are prone to dump waste on the streets, open spaces, sewers, and water bodies nearby because there isn’t a facility that collects sewage sludge from the source, which leads to unclean circumstances. Later, the pourakarmikas will clean the drains and sweep the streets to collect the released garbage. Street sweeping has consequently evolved into the dominant primary collection method.

The equipment utilized for street cleaning is antiquated and ineffective. For instance, the short-handled broom that is still in use forces sweepers to stoop for hours at a time, which causes weariness and decreased productivity.

There are several different types of vehicles used to transport trash from waste storage depots to the disposal site, including tractors, lorries, and three-wheelers. Most vehicles are outdated and open. Typically, they are manually loaded. The vehicles are badly maintained as a result of limited repair facilities and maintenance practices. This causes cars to break down, which causes services to be interrupted for a considerable amount of time.

Issues Faced By the Public

The BBMP set up seven municipal solid waste management facilities in and around the city. But they have emerged as heavy polluters to the environment, affecting the quality of air and groundwater. The most crucial is the realization that landfilling trash is not a socially or environmentally responsible way to dispose of it. People who reside close to landfills have a right to clean air and water and shouldn’t be forced to deal with the negative environmental effects that the city’s garbage causes.

Improper waste management can, and has, led to great environmental, social, economic, and public health disasters.

Respiratory illnesses have increased due to this improper waste management, and water purity has plummeted.

Mismanagement includes -the mixing of organic and inorganic waste, unscientific disposal and treatment of waste, and open burning of waste.

The Kudlu Harlur Haralakunte Somsundarapalya Parangipalya (KHHSP) Residents Welfare Association has received complaints from those who live in and around the KCDC for the past few years about the foul odour it emits. On the other hand, the KCDC asserts that the introduction of bio-air filters significantly lessened the odour.

Even though the National Green Tribunal outright forbade burning waste in open spaces in 2016 and the BBMP levied severe fines for it, the practice of burning garbage, particularly leaf litter, continues in Bengaluru. The majority of the trash is made up of leaf litter, miscellaneous trash, and low-value plastic. The smoke that emerges contains a lot of toxins and may become the reason for health issues and air pollution.

Small comparison

India and even Bengaluru, for that sake, have a lot of land compared to many other small countries. For example, Singapore and Scandinavian countries, which have scarce land, and/or labor, and are also resource-rich, handle municipal waste by incineration, and thus convert waste to energy. This interested me to take a look at how Singapore manages solid waste?

In Singapore, about 930 million kg of plastic waste is discarded every year with 96 per cent of them being non-recyclable. Over time, the nation has discovered a simple, space-efficient solution to this issue. Singapore, which is regarded as one of the world’s cleanest nations, faces similar difficulties in handling its trash.

The waste is burned in Singapore’s system for managing trash, and the smoke is filtered. The waste is first collected from every trash bag and garbage bin. The rubbish is then transported to an incinerator facility where it is burned. It is hot enough to “consume” the flames because it is over 1,000 degrees Celsius. A small amount of ash is left after almost all the trash has been burned. Then, to make it safe, this ash is moved to a body of water that does not meet ocean water. They were able to create a real “trash island” out of repeated ash deposits using this method. The island, ironically, is lovely and well-kept. Even trees and other vegetation can survive on it.

The dangerous gasses and residual ash are the only downsides. Singapore was able to resolve these issues, nevertheless. The air that is emitted from incineration plants is exceptionally pure because the dangerous gasses are filtered out. The ash is also thrown into the artificial island’s water, which doesn’t touch the ocean and has no negative effects. Unexpectedly, this technique has another advantage: incineration plants can generate electricity for thousands of houses using the heat from the waste that has been burned.

Many countries believe establishing an incineration plant would cost more than landfills, however, landfills need additional upkeep, which can be very expensive. Incineration only requires that it be deposited into clean water, which is highly economical. Even though building an incinerator facility could require a significant upfront investment, in the long run, it would probably be comparable in cost to landfills.

Conclusion

Bangalore needs a thorough and reliable method to manage the generated solid garbage. There should be more than just a fundamental, decentralized garbage disposal mechanism in the waste management system. However, it must also have a stringent oversight system for the application of solid waste management regulations.

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