Mumbai: New initiative to bring informal waste pickers into mainstream

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) plans to involve waste picker organizations for segregation activity at waste unloading sites. The corporation has invited Expression of Interest (EOI) seeking response from registered waste picker organizations to work at four refuse transfer stations and the city’s biggest dumping ground at Deonar.

According to the EOI, the organizations will work at the Mahalaxmi, Kurla, Gorai, Versova Lagoon transfer stations as well as the Deonar dumping ground. Together, these four transfer stations daily cater to about 1,900 metric tonne waste, while Deonar receives 700 metric tonne municipal solid waste. The BMC will appoint one organization for each site.

The document suggests that the organizations will be tasked with segregating dry or non-biodegradable waste from unloaded municipal solid waste at transfer stations and dumping grounds. After segregation, these agencies will be responsible for transporting it to recyclers.The MCGM will not pay the organizations. Agencies can segregate dry waste and sell it directly to the recyclers.