Sanitary workers to set example for public by managing waste at home

COIMBATORE: Sanitary workers were urged to follow the solid waste management methods at their houses and spread awareness about the same to the public at a workshop organized by the commissionerate of municipal administration (CMA) in the city on Saturday. About 70 sanitary workers with the city corporation and Mettupalayam municipality participated in the event.
“Sanitary workers have been instructed to follow four things to improve the solid waste management system in their area - they are neither to burn nor allow the public to burn waste as it increase air pollution; always carry cloth bags to shop; never purchase edible things in plastic covers; and do composting at their home to turn the wet waste into compost,” a corporation official said.
As most of sanitary workers were in good terms with the public, the corporation has been creating awareness through them, the official said, adding, “It is important that the workers follow the methods before educating the public.”
The official said the source segregation of domestic wastes was achieved at more than 60% of the places in the city. “If the public hand over mixed waste, sanitary workers were segregating it at the spot in front of them. If everyone segregates waste, then time consumed in collecting it could be reduced. The saved time could be used to cover more houses.”
At present, a sanitary worker collects wastes from 200 houses. The two-day workshop was one of the events to educate the sanitary workers working with all local bodies in the state.
Of over 3,000 sanitary workers in the city, about 360 of them had attended the training during December, 2018.
The civic body is also conducting programmes at schools to equip children to create awareness among the public.