WASTE MANAGEMENT IN SLUMS 3.11.2013 Almitra H Patel, Member, Supreme Court Committee for SWM almitrapatel@rediffmail.com WASTE COLLECTION IS EASIEST IN SLUMS Slum dwellers are always the most neglected sector for waste collection. They desire and understand the need for a clean environment and the costs of ill health. They are the most willing to cooperate in improved waste management efforts. Slum dwellers are the most willing to pay for good waste managemt despite lower incomes. No user fees needed if onsite composting can save transport costs for the city. Only political and administrative will is needed to keep slums clean. SIX EASY PROVEN METHODS FOR WASTE COLLECTION AND TREATMENT 1, Lorry at the slum entrance 2, Exchangeable bins at slum entrance 3, Door-to-door collection in handcarts 4, Take-away bins in narrow lanes 5, Shared bio-bins for on-site composting 6, Community bio-bins The slum-dwellers need to be consulted on which system they would like to have. 1, LORRY AT THE SLUM ENTRANCE Even in crowded ‘unrecognised’ slums, the narrow walking paths between shacks are usually kept clean, but waste often lies uncollected for days in large heaps just outside the slum entrance, on road shoulders or even the carriageway of the nearest motorable road. This is because cities usually give lowest priority to their poorest areas. Container-bins on such street-corners always fail, with all waste scattered around and little inside it, as seen in both rich and poor areas. Open heaps on the ground seem to be more approachable, with a smaller area dirtied. It takes a lorry 15-30 minutes to lift, load and clear such street-corner heaps. Instead, a lorry waits at the slum entrance at a fixed time, while the helper moves through the slum with a whistle to announce its arrival. Slum-dwellers come to the waiting lorry with their waste. Lorry pickup time, duration and frequency are unchanged. So no extra payment needed. City commitment to Punctuality and Regularity will eliminate slum-caused ‘black spots’.
WASTE MANAGEMENT IN SLUMS 3.11.2013 Almitra H Patel, Member, Supreme Court Committee for SWM almitrapatel@rediffmail.com WASTE COLLECTION IS EASIEST IN SLUMS Slum dwellers are always the most neglected sector for waste collection. They desire and understand the need for a clean environment and the costs of ill health. They are the most willing to cooperate in improved waste management efforts. Slum dwellers are the most willing to pay for good waste managemt despite lower incomes. No user fees needed if onsite composting can save transport costs for the city. Only political and administrative will is needed to keep slums clean. SIX EASY PROVEN METHODS FOR WASTE COLLECTION AND TREATMENT 1, Lorry at the slum entrance 2, Exchangeable bins at slum entrance 3, Door-to-door collection in handcarts 4, Take-away bins in narrow lanes 5, Shared bio-bins for on-site composting 6, Community bio-bins The slum-dwellers need to be consulted on which system they would like to have. 1, LORRY AT THE SLUM ENTRANCE Even in crowded ‘unrecognised’ slums, the narrow walking paths between shacks are usually kept clean, but waste often lies uncollected for days in large heaps just outside the slum entrance, on road shoulders or even the carriageway of the nearest motorable road. This is because cities usually give lowest priority to their poorest areas. Container-bins on such street-corners always fail, with all waste scattered around and little inside it, as seen in both rich and poor areas. Open heaps on the ground seem to be more approachable, with a smaller area dirtied. It takes a lorry 15-30 minutes to lift, load and clear such street-corner heaps. Instead, a lorry waits at the slum entrance at a fixed time, while the helper moves through the slum with a whistle to announce its arrival. Slum-dwellers come to the waiting lorry with their waste. Lorry pickup time, duration and frequency are unchanged. So no extra payment needed. City commitment to Punctuality and Regularity will eliminate slum-caused ‘black spots’.
WASTE%20%20MANAGEMENT%20IN%20%20SLUMS.docx