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The builders’ forum helps to set up bio-bins in flats and conducts awareness classes to help the residents turn biodegradable waste into compost. The compost can be used in gardens in the flat compound or for growing kitchen or terrace gardens.

— Photo: H. Vibhu

FOR A CLEAN KOCHI: The new waste disposal system at an apartment complex in Kochi.

The city Corporation has resolved to regulate waste disposal. Its health standing committee will present bylaws framed for waste management soon.

These will become rules once the Corporation council ratifies them.

The bylaws will lead to a system of segregating waste at source.

The draft of the bylaws says that residents, traders, industries and slum dwellers will have to follow the rules. An environmental engineer will head the waste-disposal department at the Corporation. A citizens’ cleanliness team will be formed in each ward for inspection.

The Corporation council will have the right to declare a road or a region a clean city zone.

There will be a special arrangement to implement the rules and inspect and collect fines from those who violate the rules.

The draft says the citizens need to be responsible in keeping footpaths and drains in front of their houses or establishments clean.

Disposal of waste will be proper only if it is segregated first. Biodegradable waste should be collected in closed containers.

Hotels, restaurants, catering units, wedding halls, hospitals and canteens should have mandatory waste-management facilities and setting them up will be a must for obtaining building licences. Those who have space constraints in doing so will have to pay fees.

Non-biodegradable waste from houses will be collected once a week. Biomedical wastes from hospitals will have to be taken care of by their managements.

A toll-free number will be available to facilitate removal of construction waste. Care should be taken to ensure that waste does not spill over from public bins. Corporation officials and employees concerned will have to pay fines if the segregated waste is mixed or not collected on time.

The draft bylaws were prepared on the basis of Supreme Court directions given in 2002.

With the local authorities failing to implement a proper system for proper waste collection and disposal, the decentralised system seemed the only option.

However, the system did not catch on with people till waste accumulated in the city for many days and the Kerala High Court intervened to restore normality.

While the building rules stipulate in-house waste-management facilities, their implementation began only recently as the local body was asked to inspect them, among other things, to issue occupancy certificates.

Having understood the magnitude of the problems related to solid-waste management in the city, builders under the Kerala Builders’ Forum announced in August a Clean Kochi movement.

It started in 20 flat complexes sold years ago, said George E. George, chairman of the forum.

Residents from other flats can also participate if they are convinced about the viability of the process.

The forum will help to set up bio-bins in flats and will conduct awareness classes to help the residents turn biodegradable waste into compost.

The compost can be used in gardens in the flat compound or for growing kitchen or terrace gardens.

“We were waiting for the process in the flats to become a success before announcing it,” said Mathen Chakola, former chairman of the forum, who had been behind the scheme.

Students of Rajagiri College of Social Sciences are the voluntary executives of the project.

They have been collecting feedback from the residents of flats where the project is on and also from places where it is scheduled to be taken up. The students provide information to the builders regarding lapses in the scheme implementation and help information dissemination.

They are acting as an important link in the project, as the providers and the users of the scheme are getting unbiased feedback, said project director Kabeer B. Haroon.

The aerobic microbial method is being used for composting. Many women are being trained for implementing the project, which will provide them a monthly salary of Rs. 3,000. There will be a supervisor for each batch of 10 people so that the waste-management work is carried out without a hitch.

The working of the bio-bins has been monitored for the past two months. Two bio-bins will set up in each building at a cost of Rs. 23,000, which is being provided by the forum initially. The residents association can repay the amount in instalments.

It is women from rural areas who have joined the project, Mr. Haroon said. Nearly 1,000 of them have joined and a 100 have been trained for implementing the scheme. At present, 26 women, along with supervisors, are employed.

Each household pays about Rs. 50 a month to keep the process running.

Two coloured containers for segregating waste are provided, of which one with biodegradable waste is cleared every day, while the other with non-biodegradable waste is collected once a week.

The scheme is open to all and any residents’ association can contact the forum at kbfcleankochi@gmail.com or on ph: 9961 055355.

The scheme will be on display for the public at the forum’s Property Show being held in Kochi from December 20.

The forum can withdraw from the scheme once it gets going without any hitch, Mr. George said. The idea is to get the people involved in keeping the city clean.

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