SLAC demands door-to-door collection in all J&K towns by October

The J&K State Level Apex Committee (SLAC) has directed that 100% door-to-door waste collection be implemented in all J&K towns by October 2, 2021.

This was decided during the recently held 8th SLAC meeting on Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), reviewing the current state of measures for solid waste management. As further reported by Greater Kashmir, among these measures were scientific disposal of solid waste, educational activities aimed at a behavioural change, as well as further measures on capacity-building. Another goal announced at the meeting was to increase source segregation.

Currently, 100% of door-to-door collection of solid waste is already being carried out in 984 wards, but only 178 wards provide for 100% of source segregation.

In mid-July, SolidWastIndia reported that the agricultural cooperative NAFED, together with the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), has laid the foundation stone of a 350 tpd MSW processing in Jammu. The MRF recently inaugurated by the JMC at Bandurakh has a capacity of 125 tpd, serving 26 municipal wards, according to the Greater Kashmir report.

Moreover, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) is setting up a 625 tpd, 5 MW WtE at Achan. This plant was approved by the J&K Government in early July.

The Municipal Committees of Pahalgam and Gulmarg have set up units for auto-composters and magnetic disintegrators for both bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste feedstock, as further reported.

Moreover, the SLAC has also approved the revised action plan for solid waste management worth Rs 415.21 crore for the JMC. The plan outlines a new concept of decentralised waste management based on scientific segregation of both wet and dry household waste, accompanied by the projected door-to-door waste collection as well as delivery to waste management centres.