DIANA FERNANDES | NT
Margao
The issue of garbage disposal especially diapers has been a constant nagging menace for most panchayats including that of Carmona in Salcete. The village has however now taken to addressing this concern by treating diaper waste in a scientific and environmentally safe manner. Having recently set up its own Material Recovery Facility (MRF), they are also planning to start wet waste treatment.
During several gram sabha meetings in the past, residents have raised the ever growing issue of garbage in the village as well as that being generated from diapers with repeated requests to find a proper solution to the problem. Most diaper waste gets mixed in the dry waste which is collected on a weekly basis and in garbage dumped on the roadside which is cleaned every 15 days. However, after being collected and segregated the panchayat was helpless with what to do with the diapers.
Speaking about the issue, village sarpanch Allwyn Jorge said a solution was found and is currently being used. “Diapers have been a constant problem when it comes to disposal. We have found that many conceal diapers in their dry waste and if we send it to the Goa Waste Management Corporation, it is returned since they don’t treat diapers. As a solution we have hired a contractor who is treating the disposable diapers in an environmentally safe manner,” he said.
The disposable diapers go through a defined process of separating its components including the cotton, plastic, gel and other materials. Based on the component, each is treated, some with chemical solutions. The separated, treated components are then packed and sent to the waste corporation who send the components to be recycled.
Currently the panchayat is treating the pending diaper waste that has been stored in the MRF and will start treating it on a daily basis once the backlog is cleared. But even as steps are being taken to ensure the village is clean, funding is still an issue.
“At the moment, we charge locals Rs 365 per year as garbage tax which is not sufficient. Additionally we managed to get the panchayat funds for garbage increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. But the issue with government funds is that we usually only get 30 percent of the funds and that too it is not guaranteed. We are doing the best that we can with what we have at the moment,” said Jorge.
He also added that plans are underway to begin wet waste treatment in the village as well. “Most residential homes in the village treat their wet waste on their own either by composting or burying it in their backyards. The major bulk of wet waste that is being generated in the village comes from restaurants, hotels and housing societies. We are exploring the option of starting a wet waste treatment for the village and we may look to start with these establishments and housing societies that don’t have a treatment setup to see how we can go about it,” said the sarpanch.