Thiruvananthapuram: On the heels of the Green Army brand audit, the city corporation is thinking of conducting a detailed waste survey to understand the amount of waste produced. Health Standing Committee chairperson K. Sreekumar said, “We have instructed officials to chalk out a plan for the survey. Waste produced in different sectors will be analysed for the content and the quantity.”
Though the idea is in its preliminary stages, officials say that this will help form a clearer waste management plan for the Corporation. “So far, we have been following rule of thumb, while designing waste management projects. The last survey was conducted in 2006 by KSUDP. Back then, the study had revealed that the city produces 249 tonnes of waste. Later, we have been relying on scientific projections factoring in population increase and other aspects, to calculate the amount of waste produced. We say that the city produces 450 tonnes daily. The survey will give more accurate numbers,” said an official.
While most of the kitchen bin campaigning has happened in core city wards, the survey might reveal whether these really are the wards which need it. For, some of the areas near Chakkai bypass are fast becoming filled with small-strip plots. Even the state government's plan to set up waste-to-energy plants can be weighed, when the composition of waste is known. Waste produced in various sectors, like say households, bulk generators and small commercial institutions, will be analysed. All 100 wards will be covered. The sample size in each ward will be fixed later.
