Mangaluru: In a bid to manage solid waste more efficiently, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) will open four dry waste collection centres in the city.
MCC, which has been striving to achieve 100% waste segregation, will join hands with NGOs to open dry waste collection centres under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
Ullal city municipality, in association with Hasiru Dala and APD Foundation, had recently signed a memorandum of understanding for setting up the district’s first dry waste collection centre at Ullal town. Every day, Ullal generates over 18 tonnes of waste, of which about 4-5 tonnes is dry. As per the MoU, Ullal city municipality will provide the physical infrastructure for collection, processing and storage of recyclable dry waste. Hasiru Dala and APD Foundation will provide technical knowhow and undertake training and monitoring of the venture.
“MCC authorities also have plans to set up four similar units in Mangaluru city limits,” said MCC environment engineer Madhu Manohar.
Some NGOs have shown interest to set up dry waste collection centres in the city, he told TOI. “We will float tenders to invite bidders who are interested to open dry waste collection centres. Selected agencies will collect, separate and dispose the dry waste. The city generates an average of 276 tonnes of dry and wet waste per day at present. It was 330 tonnes of waste per day prior to Covid-19 lockdown,” he said.
The waste processing capacity of MCC’s landfill site at Pachanady is 200 tonnes per day, and it will be increased under the Swachh Bharat Mission. “MCC also has plans to set up biogas plants to process waste in the city,” he said, adding that only one plant is functioning at Urwa Market at present.