Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday passed an interim order directing “waste generators” (citizens) in Bengaluru to adopt “two bins and one bag” system to segregate waste at source.
The court ordered segregation of biodegradable or wet waste, non-biodegradable or dry waste, and domestic hazards, including sanitary waste, in suitable bins and that everyday, the segregated waste would be collected by persons engaged by the BBMP. The waste thus collected should be transported in covered vehicles to respective waste processing units.
The Court maintained that no garbage collected from the doorsteps are mixed and transported and that the segregated waste would be collected in segregated form itself.
A division bench of Justices N Kumar and B V Nagarathna passed the order on a batch of petitions filed by civil society groups, NGOs and others seeking directions for scientific disposal of garbage in the City.
The bench stated that bulk generators should store solid waste in two bins and will be handled by an individual without any assistance from any contractor.
Establishments, including semi-government, Central government, State government, private companies, apartment dwellers, gated communities, hotels, restaurants, marriage halls, education institutions, malls, shops, clubs and places of religious worship have to adopt “two bins and one bag” system.
The bench said that bio-degradable waste from fruits and vegetable markets, meat and fish markets and horticultural waste from parks and gardens should be sent to decomposing facility within the premises to make optimum use and minimise the cost of collection and transportation.
The bench said that not following the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2015, is punishable under section 431 A of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, which talks about penalties for failure to comply with the Solid Waste Management Scheme. The bench will further hear the matter after the winter vacation.
