Mangaluru: Expressing apprehension regarding the inefficiency of weekly dry waste collection from houses in Mangaluru, Senior Environment Officer Vijaya Hegde of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board urged action during a workshop at the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) council hall on Tuesday. Hegde noted an increase in mixed waste reaching the waste processing unit in Pachchanady.
She highlighted that despite the MCC’s attempt to collect dry waste once a week (on Fridays) to ensure proper segregation at the processing unit, the collection on the field is not occurring effectively. This ongoing issue of mixed waste reaching the processing unit is adversely impacting the waste processing system.
Hegde called upon Mangaluru City Corporation councillors to actively participate in domestic waste processing, emphasizing the importance of segregating waste at its source and transporting it to the processing site. She stressed that collective action is crucial for the city to achieve the goal of becoming a single-use plastic-free city.
Additionally, Hegde suggested that the Mangaluru City Corporation should register as a plastic waste recycler on the Centralised Extended Producers’ Responsibility portal for Plastic Packaging, allowing them to earn income from the processing of dry waste. She pointed out that according to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, Producers, Importers, and Brand-owners (PIBs) bear the responsibility for processing their plastic packaging waste. She cited examples of other cities like Mysuru and Indore, which have registered on the portal and are generating income from plastic processing.
During the workshop, T. Mahima, a senior scientific officer of the Central Pollution Control Board, highlighted the increase in waste due to improved lifestyles, with an average person in Karnataka generating 123 grams of waste per day. She urged the public to opt for alternatives such as steel, glass, wood, and compostable/biodegradable bags instead of single-use plastic items like carry bags, plates, and spoons.
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