Tricycles to collect waste from doorsteps: GCC

CHENNAI: In a bid to improve the door to door collection of waste in the city, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), on November 26, have launched battery operated tricycles in the city under the funds from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Currently, State Bank of India have funded the project, while more funds from both private and public sectors are expected to fund the project to improve door to door municipal solid waste collection system in the city.

The battery operated tricycles to collect waste are handed over by Pi Beam, a startup incubated by IIT-Madras Incubation Cell. Each vehicle costs Rs 1 Lakh, can collect 300 kg of waste and has an operational range of 45 km on a single charge. The collected waste will be segregated and then be used in 700 parks across the city as compost. 

G Prakash, Commissioner, GCC launched the battery operated vehicles for 14 locations in the city. As of now, a total of 411 tricycles are present to collect door to door waste in the city, the civic body has also requested for more such vehicles under CSE funds to promote source segregation.

People living in the narrow streets of the city has always complained about the inadequate collection of municipal waste from their doorsteps. Currently the city needs more door to door collection waste vehicles for more than 12 lakh residential and commercial properties. There are around 33,000 streets in the city and over 18 lakh residents in the slum areas of the city which remains a challenge at promoting waste segregation and waste collection from doorsteps.