Waste transfer units reek, Hyderabad citizens choke

Hyderabad: People living in the vicinity of garbage transfer units are left gasping with each breath because of the stench. A majority of the 21 transfer units are located in residential areas, which makes their scientific operation and management crucial.

Transfer units were set up to decentralise waste management, but they seem to have turned into mini-extensions of the Jawaharnagar dump yard. The garbage dumped by Swachh vehicles at these spots is left unattended for at least 24 hours before it is picked up by larger vehicles.

Ideally, composting units and dry waste collection centres should have been set up at all transfer units. As per the official website, 10 units in the city have dry waste collection and three have composting units.

“Ideally, wet waste must not touch the surface of the ground and must directly be placed into a composting unit,” said a senior GHMC official. Ramps have been designed so that tippers can release their contents into composting units, but these structures have not been installed in the city.

“We receive a lot of complaints, and try to deal with them as efficiently as possible,” said Dr Hemaltha, the GHMC’s assistant medical officer. Officers are planning to set up an odour-negating buffer to reduce the discomfort to locals.

Officials say that the transfer units have been successful in ensuring that garbage is not dumped on the road. Decentralisation of the waste has helped reduce transportation costs by 50 per cent. The GHMC pays up to Rs 2,000 for every tonne of waste lifted from the transfer units.

Major Shiva Kiran (retd) of Sukuki Exnora, a waste management venture, said, “These transfer units, if equipped with the right infrastructure, can manage a majority of the waste in a scientific manner.” 

He said that transfer units are in need of waste management technology. He said that even with the infrastructure in place it will be impossible to manage wet and dry waste if they are mixed together.

Waste affair

Dry resource centres segregate dry wastes and process them for recycling.

Godrej and ITC are sponsoring 13 units at Mallapur, HMT Hills Kukatpally, Nallagandla, Deeptisreenagar, IALA Cherlapalli, Devendranagar, Rajendra Nagar, and Secunderabad.

The city generates 5,000 tonnes of waste every day.

A transfer unit must have concrete flooring to prevent leachate from seeping into the soil and contaminating groundwater.

The unit must have a buffer zone. This is a rule that is often flouted.

Garbage arrives at transfer units between 6 am and 8 pm. It is segregated from 8 pm onwards and transported to Jawahar Nagar at night.

Pune and Hyderabad are the only cities to have implemented decentralised waste management systems.