PUNE: After the implementation of nationwide coronavirus lockdown, garbage generation in Pune has reduced by around 500 metric tones.

Dnyaneshwar Molak, the head of Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Solid Waste Management Department, said that the main reason behind this is the reduction in outdoor garbage dumping and hotel waste. “Since there are very few people on the streets, not much garbage is being thrown on the roads. Also, the outdoor dumping has reduced significantly,” Molak said.

He added that the waste from the hotels is also around 300 metric tonnes per day, but the hotels are also shut right now amid the lockdown.”

Speaking about the same, Harshad Barde of SWaCH said that the waste generation is low as the consumption is also low.

“People are buying very limited products. Hence, domestic dry waste has reduced by at least 10 to 15 per cent. Since offices, hotels, industries and shops are shut, the dry waste is less. The waste pickers are, however, collecting almost similar amounts of wet waste,” Barde said.

He further said, “Since scrap dealers are not working, the waste pickers are not sorting and sending dry waste for recycling. Sorting has also become a risky task for them. Had that been done, we would have an even smaller volume of garbage sent to the dump.”  

HELPING SWACH
If the citizens wish to make contributions in support of SWaCH waste pickers, they can call 9765999500 or visit the website www.swachcoop.com.

In the middle of the lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak, around 3,500 waste pickers of the SWaCH Pune Cooperative, authorised by the PMC, have continued providing door-to-door waste collection service across Pune City.