PRIA

Suryapet Municipality in Andhra Pradesh has implemented a dustbin free and zero garbage policy under its Solid Waste Management Project. This town in the Nalgonda district with a population of 1.04 lakh as per the 2001 census is the first municipality in the country to implement an integrated solid waste management programme.

From dumping garbage on the roads once, its citizens have now made it possible for garbage to be collected from their homes itself. The result is a cleaner, hygienic environment in the town.

The town municipality undertook certain measures to ensure a garbage-free zone: Removal of public/community dustbins: The Suryapet Municipal Authorities removed the public/community dustbins in the town and introduced door-to-door collection of garbage from all households and commercial establishments from February 2003 by sending municipal vehicles along with public health workers. For easy implementation of this measure, the entire municipal area was divided into seven territorial zones.

Introduction of single bin system: Initially for about six months from February 2003, garbage was collected without segregation in a single bin. At this stage of intervention, all residents used to store the garbage in a single bin/plastic bags/cartons, etc., and hand it over to the municipal tractor as and when it visited their houses.

Introduction of plastic bin system: In August, 2003, all residents were supplied with two plastic bins to deposit wet garbage in green colour bins and dry garbage in red colour bins, duly segregating the garbage at source. The municipality raised funds for the purchase and distribution of bins from various sources for the purpose.

Demo Classes: Demo classes were conducted in street corner meetings to foster community participation in the programme by segregating garbage at source (i.e., wet and dry garbage separately). For easy segregation of garbage, a calendar in local language indicating the materials to be put in the green and red bins was distributed.

At the same time, all the roads and drains were cleaned daily and the garbage generated (including silt) thereon loaded into the municipal vehicle when it visited the streets for collection of garbage from households. The garbage generated after sweeping the streets was also deposited in the vehicle. Arrangements were made for periodic collection and safe disposal of drainage silt.