Nagpur: Sharp decline in waste generation during pandemic

The quantum of waste collected in Nagpur has reduced significantly, by more than a third, during the pandemic. As per data procured from Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) solid waste management department, waste collected in September was 28,086.61 MTD, while pre-lockdown it was 1,163.01MTD, reports The Times of India.

The city’s waste generation dipped by almost 227MT per month in September compared to pre-lockdown months. The civic body’s two waste operators — AG Enviro and BVG India — collected 32,131.75MT in 31 days in March for a daily average of 1,036.50MTD.

The average collection was 1,255 MTDlast year. NMC collected 1,180.52 MTD in January and 1,145.50 MTD in February or an average of 1,163.01 MTD. During the lockdown (March 21 to 31), garbage collection started witnessing a dip at 952.72 MTD.

While the NMC Deputy municipal commissioner (SWM) Dr Pradip Dasarwar informed that waste generation has reduced significantly due to improved source segregation and composting by residents, others attributed it to irregularities by both the firms who were also lifting mud.