Staff Reporter

Panaji

To effectively manage the waste generated in Panaji, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) plans to replicate the 16-way segregation system over the next five years at another 130 housing colonies and commercial establishments that are bulk waste generators.

Presently, 33 housing colonies practice the segregation system.

The CCP had begun with two-way garbage segregation in 2002. Taking a step ahead, in 2008, it implemented the five-way segregation system and, in 2020, it started off with the 16-way segregation system.

In this system, bulk waste generators segregate waste at source into 16 fractions, including paper, e-waste, coconut shells, tubelights, and sharp objects, among others.

“Every year, waste increases by about two-three tonne. Moreover, the infrastructure for waste management is limited and there is no scope for expansion,” said a CCP official.

Panaji generates 54 tonne of waste on an average every day, of which about 34 tonne is wet waste and 20 tonne dry waste. Prior to the CCP adopting the two-way segregation system in 2002, the total waste generated was less than 25 tonne per day.

“The CCP, through the two authorised agencies buys this segregated waste and pays the housing colonies,” the official said.

As far as the wet waste is concerned, it is either collected daily or some housing colonies manage it through their composting units. With regard to dry waste, of the 16 fractions, eight to nine are collected daily, while others are collected weekly.

“We have set a target of covering 2-3 units in a month,” said the official. “If the dry waste is segregated at source in 16 fractions, then the burden on the facility also reduces. Additionally, it helps in getting cleaner waste and the recovery rate also increases,” said the official, adding, “It also helps in recycling the waste and generating revenue.”