in my backyard!: an alternate model of solid waste management angelique chettiparamb mary...

In My Backyard!: An In My Backyard!: An Alternate Model of Solid Alternate Model of Solid

Waste ManagementWaste Management

Angelique ChettiparambAngelique ChettiparambMary ChakkalakkalMary ChakkalakkalRajan ChedambathRajan Chedambath

The PresentationThe Presentation

Context of CochinContext of Cochin

The Case: SWM in PachalamThe Case: SWM in Pachalam

Wider Debates in SWMWider Debates in SWM

The Contribution of the Case The Contribution of the Case

CochinCochin Cochin: Cochin:

Extent of CoC: 94.88 sq Extent of CoC: 94.88 sq kms (CDP, 2006)kms (CDP, 2006)

Population: 596,473 Population: 596,473 (2001census)(2001census)

Warm humid climateWarm humid climate Ecologically sensitiveEcologically sensitive Commercial capital of Commercial capital of

the statethe stateHigh land valueHigh land valueLittle vacant landLittle vacant landHigh densitiesHigh densities

SWM in CochinSWM in Cochin

SWM has ‘hit a blind alley’ (SWM has ‘hit a blind alley’ (The Hindu, 12The Hindu, 12thth September, 2007)September, 2007)

Late July, 2007 – Waste everywhere.Late July, 2007 – Waste everywhere. Unbearable stenchUnbearable stench Closure of schools and government officesClosure of schools and government offices Court intervention – under blanket permission District Court intervention – under blanket permission District

Collector had to intervene.Collector had to intervene. Impacts on drainage, water logging, Impacts on drainage, water logging,

environmental pollution and mosquitoes and environmental pollution and mosquitoes and povertypoverty

33% of total revenue spent on SWM, average 33% of total revenue spent on SWM, average O&M costs are more than most Indian cities (Rs O&M costs are more than most Indian cities (Rs 1787/ton). 1787/ton).

SWM in CochinSWM in Cochin Storage of wasteStorage of waste – Limited (35% of domestic – Limited (35% of domestic

sources, 50% of hotels and 20% of non-domestic sources, 50% of hotels and 20% of non-domestic sources)sources)

Community BinsCommunity Bins - 40-45% deposited in community - 40-45% deposited in community bins and designated collection points bins and designated collection points (Metallic/concrete rings – overflowing, cattle, rats) (Metallic/concrete rings – overflowing, cattle, rats)

Source segregationSource segregation – One division consisting of – One division consisting of 3,158 upper middle class households3,158 upper middle class households

SweepingSweeping – Around 750 kms of the 1030kms not – Around 750 kms of the 1030kms not cared for at all.cared for at all.

Primary TransportationPrimary Transportation – – Waste scooped onto the ground and then filled in baskets Waste scooped onto the ground and then filled in baskets

(Multiple handling) (Multiple handling) Baskets are thrown and caught by workers standing Baskets are thrown and caught by workers standing

inside trucks (spread of contaminated dust particles)inside trucks (spread of contaminated dust particles)

SWM at presentSWM at present Transportation efficiency -Transportation efficiency - very low - 2 truck trips/day very low - 2 truck trips/day

transports 50% of waste generated, irregular operation, transports 50% of waste generated, irregular operation, none on Sundays and holidays, few mechanical trucksnone on Sundays and holidays, few mechanical trucks

Transfer station –Transfer station – Unorganised, informal segregation to Unorganised, informal segregation to retrieve recyclables – manual and multiple handlingretrieve recyclables – manual and multiple handling

Landfill Landfill – Temporary landfill site at present. Very – Temporary landfill site at present. Very difficult to find land – Cost and NIMBY’s syndrome.difficult to find land – Cost and NIMBY’s syndrome.

CoC has acquired a site 15.4 ha, 20kms away from the CoC has acquired a site 15.4 ha, 20kms away from the city.city.

Plans to establish a 200 tons/day windrow composting Plans to establish a 200 tons/day windrow composting unit and a 50 tons/day vermi-composting unitunit and a 50 tons/day vermi-composting unit

Current waste generation is 400tons/dayCurrent waste generation is 400tons/day

SWM: PachalamSWM: Pachalam Pachalam Division: Area: 0.83 sq kms, Pachalam Division: Area: 0.83 sq kms,

population: 7869, BPL families: 360 population: 7869, BPL families: 360 Project (2005)Project (2005)

Initiation by Division CouncillorInitiation by Division Councillor Learning exerciseLearning exercise Approached Rajagiri college for assistance Approached Rajagiri college for assistance Household survey for identification of Household survey for identification of

interested families interested families Public meeting with interested families to Public meeting with interested families to

discuss project options – composting/disposal in discuss project options – composting/disposal in garden/biogas generationgarden/biogas generation

Residents more comfortable with biogas Residents more comfortable with biogas generationgeneration

Less spaceLess space Potential for gas and slurry (fertiliser)Potential for gas and slurry (fertiliser)

SWM-PachalamSWM-Pachalam

Mobilisation using existing Resident Mobilisation using existing Resident Associations and students (23 street level Associations and students (23 street level programmes,15 ADS meetings, 3 meetings programmes,15 ADS meetings, 3 meetings in schools, meetings with party members, in schools, meetings with party members, trade unions,3 co-ordination committee trade unions,3 co-ordination committee meetings) meetings)

6 Resident Associations increased to 16.6 Resident Associations increased to 16. institutional forums for collective decision institutional forums for collective decision

making, information sharing and direct citizen making, information sharing and direct citizen participation and engagement participation and engagement

maintenance of close vigil maintenance of close vigil

SWM in PachalamSWM in Pachalam

Pilot schemePilot scheme 100 families 100 families

registeredregistered Initially - Part Initially - Part

subsidy from subsidy from College and part College and part BC.BC.

Efforts to contact Efforts to contact other NGOs.other NGOs.

Identified Bio-OasisIdentified Bio-Oasis


Funding/plant –Rs 4850Funding/plant –Rs 4850 CoC subsidy -Rs 1000CoC subsidy -Rs 1000 MLA –Rs 1000MLA –Rs 1000 BC – Rs 1500BC – Rs 1500 Bio-Oasis – Rs 1350Bio-Oasis – Rs 1350

Plant supply + Plant supply + Installation + after Installation + after salessales

Tank capacity 200 litresTank capacity 200 litres 5 member family – 1-2 5 member family – 1-2

hrs of gas in the hrs of gas in the morning and 0.5 -1 hr morning and 0.5 -1 hr in the eveningin the evening


2500 households2500 households500 could dispose waste in their backyard500 could dispose waste in their backyard1000 willing to install biogas1000 willing to install biogasFor the remaining ~1000 families – For the remaining ~1000 families –

collection systemcollection systemAttached to communal biogas units - Attached to communal biogas units -

markets, wedding halls and Corporation markets, wedding halls and Corporation landland

First one at the market - tank capacity 40 First one at the market - tank capacity 40 m3, feeding capacity 800kg/day, m3, feeding capacity 800kg/day, construction cost of Rs 900,000 construction cost of Rs 900,000


A group of 5 menA group of 5 men Waste segregation at Waste segregation at

sourcesource Collected from Collected from

buckets kept outsidebuckets kept outside Rs 30/household and Rs 30/household and

Rs 70/flat Rs 70/flat Typically each worker Typically each worker

earns Rs 140/day earns Rs 140/day after expenses after expenses (7.30am to 3.30pm)(7.30am to 3.30pm)

SWM in PachalamSWM in Pachalam RecyclingRecycling

Collected clean from households by ragpickersCollected clean from households by ragpickers Households are paid for this wasteHouseholds are paid for this waste Non-recyclables are also collected, with no payment Non-recyclables are also collected, with no payment Residual recyclables retrieved by collection group Rs Residual recyclables retrieved by collection group Rs

50 - Rs 70/day50 - Rs 70/day SlurrySlurry

Most household use it in their gardensMost household use it in their gardens Some drain it into the Corporation drainage systemSome drain it into the Corporation drainage system Schemes to encourage and promote Schemes to encourage and promote

kitchen/medicinal gardens through awards schemeskitchen/medicinal gardens through awards schemes Forest department to be contacted for street Forest department to be contacted for street

plantingplanting


Done away with waste lying aroundDone away with waste lying around Bin–free ward – Earlier 26 collection points, Bin–free ward – Earlier 26 collection points,

now just 2 unauthorized pointsnow just 2 unauthorized points Generally satisfied citizens – impact onGenerally satisfied citizens – impact on

DrainageDrainage MosquitoesMosquitoes Poor familiesPoor families Cottage industriesCottage industries General environmental qualityGeneral environmental quality Forwarding looking attitudeForwarding looking attitude


Success FactorsSuccess Factors Motive : Criticality of the problemMotive : Criticality of the problem Ideology : Possibility of Zero-waste practices Ideology : Possibility of Zero-waste practices

reported from elsewhere and promoted by reported from elsewhere and promoted by State Govt and NGOsState Govt and NGOs

Knowledge and Assistance: Availability of Knowledge and Assistance: Availability of locally knowledgeable NGOslocally knowledgeable NGOs

Agency: Division CouncillorAgency: Division Councillor Specific form: Evolved through collective Specific form: Evolved through collective

planning and decision-making though informed planning and decision-making though informed evaluationevaluation

Models in SWMModels in SWM

Waste hierarchyWaste hierarchy In developing countriesIn developing countries Reduce, re-use and Reduce, re-use and

recycle generally takes recycle generally takes placeplace

Recovery and disposing Recovery and disposing dimensions not very well dimensions not very well developeddeveloped Incineration - non-starter Incineration - non-starter

due to composition of due to composition of wastewaste

Composting and biogas Composting and biogas emerging as viable emerging as viable solutionssolutions

Debates in SWMDebates in SWM Technical solutions – Aimed at centralised effective Technical solutions – Aimed at centralised effective

systemsystem How to find resources?How to find resources? PrivatisationPrivatisation

Efficiency argument. However marginalisation and lack of Efficiency argument. However marginalisation and lack of interest in negative externalitiesinterest in negative externalities

Privatisation involving private sector NGOs and CBOs.Privatisation involving private sector NGOs and CBOs. Model of subsidiarity soon evolved (appropriateness Model of subsidiarity soon evolved (appropriateness

and efficiency)and efficiency) Households- reuse, segregation, recycling (preparation of Households- reuse, segregation, recycling (preparation of

waste for the system) waste for the system) CBOs and NGOs in a coordinating/mobilising role (facilitation CBOs and NGOs in a coordinating/mobilising role (facilitation

of this preparation)of this preparation) Local Governments in an enabler/facilitator role Local Governments in an enabler/facilitator role

(frameworks)(frameworks)

Debates in SWMDebates in SWM

Segregation at Segregation at household level, household level,

Primary collection and Primary collection and limited amount of limited amount of recovery through recovery through composting at composting at neighbourhood level, neighbourhood level,

Secondary collection Secondary collection and disposal at city and disposal at city levellevel

Model that is linear Model that is linear through scale through scale

Problems with Linear model Problems with Linear model

User EngagementUser Engagement: Difficulties in : Difficulties in sustaining citizen engagement sustaining citizen engagement

Space LimitationsSpace Limitations: In urban contexts: In urban contexts Loss of energy recovery opportunitiesLoss of energy recovery opportunities:In :In

landfill siteslandfill sites Environmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems: India - landfill : India - landfill

sites (50-60%methane) are the third sites (50-60%methane) are the third largest contributor to global warming largest contributor to global warming

Lack of Economies of ScaleLack of Economies of Scale: There are no : There are no economies of scale in SWM. economies of scale in SWM.

The Alternate ModelThe Alternate Model

Advantages of the Alternate Advantages of the Alternate ModelModel

Inherently more Inherently more stablestable: Failure is localised: Failure is localised Resource friendlyResource friendly as all stages in the waste as all stages in the waste

hierarchy is exercised in all scales resulting in an hierarchy is exercised in all scales resulting in an almost complete resource recoveryalmost complete resource recovery

Easily Easily manageablemanageable as at each level, (both local and as at each level, (both local and city level) there is less pollution entering the system city level) there is less pollution entering the system

Financially viableFinancially viable as at Division level, the system as at Division level, the system operates through user charges that are publicly operates through user charges that are publicly accepted accepted

People sensitivePeople sensitive as the processes are democratically as the processes are democratically mediated mediated

Operationally sustainableOperationally sustainable as the benefits of the as the benefits of the system reaches the generatorsystem reaches the generator

Environmentally sustainableEnvironmentally sustainable as waste is treated as waste is treated almost simultaneously with its generation/or entry almost simultaneously with its generation/or entry into the particular scale. into the particular scale.

Thank youThank you

[email protected]@cf.ac.uk

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in my backyard!: an alternate model of solid waste management angelique chettiparamb mary...

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