BMC to introduce black bins for domestic hazardous waste

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Mumbai Corporation (BMC) plans to introduce a three-bin policy in Mumbai from December, replacing the current two-bin policy. Under this policy, domestic hazardous waste (DHW) will have to be segregated into black bins, in addition to dry and wet waste. It will be mandatory for housing societies to implement. 

According to Sangeeta Hasnale, deputy municipal commissioner (SWM), the black bins will be provided to the societies and small shops. There will be a separate section in the waste-collection vehicle for domestic hazardous waste.

The policy will be put into effect in a phase-wise manner. The first step of BMC is creating awareness about black bins, after which it will build a facility for transporting such garbage, which will later be integrated with the transportation of dry waste. Domestic hazardous waste removal from the black bins will be the third step.

If a housing society lacks the space to retain an additional third container, a black waste bag may be used in its place. According to Section 61(C) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, the BMC has a legal responsibility to do solid waste management (SWM). 

Before the SWM Rule 2016 came into effect, it was required to separate the solid waste only into dry and wet streams. But now, after the enactment of SWM Rule 2016 waste has to be segregated into three streams namely dry, wet and domestic hazardous waste, which includes sanitary waste. The rule also mandates urban local bodies to construct a DHW collection facility every 20 sq km. Since DHW can’t be disposed of at landfill sites, a special facility for its disposal will be constructed.