New Delhi: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has officially launched the third quarter of the 9th edition of Swachh Survekshan 2024. This phase of the survey will concentrate on evaluating the entire value chain of waste management at Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs), a critical segment contributing significantly to urban waste.
Swachh Survekshan, a comprehensive urban cleanliness assessment, is conducted in four quarters. The initial two quarters involve telephonic feedback from citizens on various cleanliness parameters, the third quarter assesses waste processing facilities, and the final quarter includes field assessments on all cleanliness indicators.
Urban India generates approximately 150,000 tons of waste daily, a figure that continues to rise with increasing urbanization and lifestyle changes. According to MoHUA, BWGs account for nearly 30 to 40% of a city’s waste. Defined under the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016, BWGs are entities producing more than 100 kg of waste per day, encompassing various waste streams. These rules aim to alleviate the management and financial burden on urban local bodies (ULBs), minimize landfill waste, and reduce pollution and the urban carbon footprint.
BWGs, including residential and commercial complexes, government ministries, public sector undertakings, private bodies, hotels, universities, and transport hubs, are mandated to segregate waste at source. They must ensure scientific processing of biodegradable waste into manure and biogas by establishing composting units on their premises. Additionally, BWGs are required to separately store Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste.
Given their substantial contribution to overall waste generation, the effective waste management practices of BWGs are crucial to achieving the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, which aims to make Indian cities garbage-free. The 3rd quarter of Swachh Survekshan 2024, commencing on July 5, will rigorously validate all aspects of waste management, including collection, transportation, processing, and final disposal of waste generated by BWGs within the jurisdiction of ULBs.
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