WASTE MANAGEMENT IN SLUMS Almitra H Patel Member, Supreme Court Committee for Solid Waste Management in Class 1 Cities in India 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 WASTE MANAGEMENT Despite having lower incomes than other areas, collection is most forthcoming and easiest to collect in slums.

FIVE EASY PROVEN METHODS FOR WASTE COLLECTION AND TREATMENT 1, Lorry at the slum entrance 2, Door-to-door collection in handcarts 3, Take-away bins in narrow lanes 4, Shared bio-bins 5, Community bio-bins

LORRY AT SLUM ENTRANCE Slum lanes are usually kept clean, but waste usually lies uncollected in large heaps just outside the slum entrance. It takes a lorry 15-20 minutes to load this. Instead, a lorry waits at slum entrance at a fixed time, while helper moves through slum with whistle to announce its arrival. Slum-dwellers come to lorry with their waste. Lorry pickup time and frequency unchanged. So no extra payment is required.

DOOR-TO-DOOR COLLECTION IN HANDCARTS This is done in Calcutta’s upgraded slums where lanes are paved and wide enough for movement. Waste is collected in the usual way in hand-carts at a fixed time of day. No payment is required as this replaces earlier lane-sweeping practices.

TAKE-AWAY BINS IN NARROW LANES-1 In Mumbai, slum assns appoint youths for cleaning work, before going to college or jobs. First a mass clean-up drive is undertaken. Then the new system is immediately started. 7-8am : narrow open drains are swept clean. 8am : 50-litre bins given by city are placed at path crossings, one per 25 homes or so.

TAKE-AWAY BINS IN NARROW LANES-2 8-10 am : waste is carried from each home to nearest bin at residents’ convenience. 10-11 am : All bins are removed and unloaded directly into waiting truck outside slum, and stacked till next day. City’s cooperation in regular and punctual presence of lorry at 10-11am is vital !! Residents willingly pay Re 1 per head or Rs 5 per family. More for shops outside the slum.

SHARED BIO-BINS : DHAKA MODEL Waste Concern NGO provides 5-6 families a perforated barrel on a raised base, with compost layer at bottom as a starter bed. Residents must fill only kitchen waste daily in layers not more than ~50mm, for mulch-composting in the barrel. NGO buys the ready compost when barrel is full after 3 months or so. Demand is good and cooperation too, as residents see their waste as valuable.

COMMUNITY BIO-BINS - 1 This bio-bin replaced a dirty overflowing waste container. It serves 125 families at Diamond Gdn Chembur, who pay for the program. Segregated waste is loaded daily by door-to- door collectors, bioculture is added & waste is turned.

COMMUNITY BIO-BINS - 2 After 15 days, a similar bio-bin is used while the compost in 1st bin matures in 15 more days. Compost is not sold but used in flowerbeds for street beautification. 3 get employed, for an hour a day for dtdoor collection, street and drain cleaning, gardening + composting

COMMUNITY BIO-BINS - 3 140 such bio-bins are in use at Kochi on Rupee-A-Day scheme, in good demand for cleanliness in middle-income areas. Residents groups pay for installation of bio-bins. Kudumbashree womens’ self-help groups collect waste door-to-door, put kitchen waste in bio-bin, add culture and turn it. Sale of compost adds to their income. Being tried in slums now.