The city Corporation has introduced a bylaw to regulate the functioning of firms which collect biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste from commercial establishments, auditoriums, hospitals and offices. At a council meeting held on Tuesday, 19 firms, identified by a technical committee, were approved for the purpose.
The civic body has been for some time depending on the services of such firms, which enter into contracts with commercial establishments, including restaurants, to collect the waste generated daily. But, some of these firms were found to be dumping the collected waste in waterbodies and other public places, thus forcing the Corporation to introduce stringent rules to regulate their functioning.
Shops or restaurants can enter into contracts with these selected firms, a majority of which are piggeries from the rural regions of the district.
Two waste management firms from the bordering districts of Tamil Nadu have also been shortlisted.
Once the owner registers, a health inspector from the Corporation would carry out a site visit to ascertain the amount of waste that will be generated, to fix the fees, which is based on a slab system.
Objection
Some of the opposition councillors questioned the process through which the 19 firms were selected, raising concerns regarding some groups which had dumped the collected waste in public spaces.
They also said that the bylaw did not make clear how or where the collected waste would be processed.