More than a year after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) made it mandatory for bulk generators to process waste at source, 50% of them are yet to follow the rule.

Housing societies or big businesses such as restaurants and hotels that generate more than 100kg of waste, or are spread across more than 5000 sqm, are categorised as bulk generators. In 2017, the civic body had issued a warning to bulk waste generators, threatening to stop collecting garbage from them after October 2. According to the BMC, Mumbai has 3,363 bulk generators, of which 1,700 don’t process the waste.

Ashok Khaire, deputy municipal commissioner of the solid waste management (SWM) department, said, “The BMC has prosecuted all 1,700 bulk generators under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) and Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Acts. The court will fine them.”

While Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Worli, Lower Parel and Chembur are among areas that see maximum compliance, Andheri and Bandra top the list of those flouting the rule. None of the 24 wards see 100% compliance. The A ward (areas of Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Churchgate) has 208 bulk generators, 74 of which are processing the waste. Similarly, G-South ward (areas of Worli and Lower Parel, which have many restaurants, and big housing societies) has 80 bulk generators, of which 75 are processing their waste. All 32 bulk waste generators in Chembur are processing their waste.

Areas of Andheri (West) have recorded the highest non-compliance. K West ward has 568 bulk waste generators, of which 427 are non-compliant.

Experts believe it is time for the BMC to take strong action to discourage non-compliance.

Vidya Vaidya, who is associated Bandra Reclamation Area Volunteers’ Organisation, and has been working on waste segregation and processing at source in this area, said, “The only way out is to stop lifting waste. Imposing fines doesn’t work. People should think about what they are doing to their environment, and how it will affect the standard of living of future generations.”

First Published: May 11, 2019 02:46 IST