BMC removes underground waste bins in big markets

BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started removing the huge underground dustbins installed at big markets as they turned out to be mini wasteyards with garbage littered all around them.
Because of the underground dustbins, the vendors, shopkeepers and residents of nearby localities became complacent and dumped mixed waste (unsegregated) as a result of which the civic body had to separate the wet and dry waste.
This was an extra load on it. In fact, according to new norms, the segregated wet and dry waste is taken to the micro composting centres (MCC) and material recovery facility (MRF) respectively for processing.
BMC additional commissioner (sanitation) Suvendu Sahu said the dustbins will help promote waste segregation at source. People are being encouraged to segregate wet and dry waste at their end.
"We have hundreds of dedicated waste-carrying vehicles (that carry the segregated lot from doorsteps) that can bring the waste for markets and households to MCC and MRF. If we have bulk of waste in unsegregated shape, it is extra work for us. So, we decided to remove the dustbins," Sahu said.
Among others, the huge dustbins are installed at Unit-I and Unit-II markets, Unit-IV and Indradhanu markets. There are also dustbins near Kalpan Square.
In November 2022, the BMC declared Bapuji Nagar as a garbage-free market of the capital. The BMC accorded the tag to the market as it became garbage-free, which means there is no litter of garbage anymore. The Bapuji Nagar market, the most sought-after one when it comes to home appliances and electronic gadgets, has 2,000-plus shops in 14 lanes and three parallel rows.
The dustbins, BMC officials said, were also occupying huge space and were lending an ugly look to the area. After removal of the dustbins, the vacant space will be developed under the ongoing place-specific beautification plan to increase visual appeal.
Earlier, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) had identified the grey areas, where an aesthetic touch can be lent by bringing modifications in terms of landscape design and wall paintings.
Some vacant spaces will just have lawn and shrub plantation so that ambient air is not polluted.