Pune: Members of Solid Waste Collection and Handling (SWaCH), along with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials, held a rally in the city to advocate Swachh smart city.

More than 150 chronic spots in the city are now clean and no longer dumping grounds for garbage. Rallies, street plays and personal interaction are some of the methods adopted for speeding up awareness in this regard.

The rally was held at Gosavi Vasti in Warje ward. Starting from Vandevi Mandir, the group progressed from door to door and talked about proper segregation and disposal of waste.

Members of SWaCH urged citizens to be part of the system and explained how garbage affects the health and wellness of local residents, with the help of flyers and literature.

Addressing local citizens, corporator Jayant Bhave said that when unsegregated waste comes from households, it burdens the PMC's entire solid waste management system.

“If we, as citizens, segregate waste at source and give it to SWaCH waste pickers, it adds to the recycling and makes for a better environment. It is in our hands to make a change,” said Bhave.

The vasti has approximately 900 households, and out of this, 600 households are covered by five SWaCH waste pickers, and waste is collected every day from these homes.

The rallies intended to cover the remaining 300 homes and explain issues like monthly user fees, which make for the livelihood of those collecting and disposing waste. Slums currently have to pay only Rs 35 and the waste pickers get another Rs 10 per household, as subsidy from the PMC.

This decentralised system reduces the burden on landfills and logistics. It also helps remove and prevent chronic garbage dumping sites from forming.