MCD: Need for Policy Reform & Public Awareness on C&D Waste Management
Ajay K. Agrawal, Supdtt. Engineer-I, South Zone, MCD, New Delhi, addresses the challenges in public awareness and proper disposal of C&D waste. He emphasizes the importance of public cooperation and the implementation of policies to manage waste effectively.
I represent the Municipal Corporation. As a civic agency, I have a few points to address, particularly regarding Delhi. We estimate the total quantity of C&D (Construction and Demolition) waste at over 10,000 tons per day. Currently, we are processing 5,000 tons of C&D waste daily, yet we believe that 60 to 70% of the waste remains unutilized or wasted. This highlights the magnitude of the problem.
The core issue lies in the mindset. The CPWD and BIS have made significant progress by incorporating recycled products into their standards. The common understanding among engineers is that recycled products can be safely used for non-structural applications. For those who are unaware, it's simply a matter of raising awareness. However, in Delhi, the challenge is public awareness and proper waste disposal. We have implemented a very liberal policy with collection centers across the city where people can dispose of their waste. Unfortunately, many still choose to pay someone a small fee to dump waste on the roadside, forcing us to collect it from multiple locations. I wouldn't mind collecting waste from a single designated spot, but changing public behaviour is key.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has been actively promoting the use of recycled products. We regularly hold meetings, and there are provisions and guidelines from the Government of India that must be implemented by all cities with a population of over one million. We are definitely working on this.
The waste management problem in Delhi extends beyond C&D waste to municipal solid waste. We generate approximately 12,000 tons of municipal solid waste daily, of which we are processing 8,000 tons. However, over 3,000 tons are still being dumped at landfill sites. We are in the process of establishing two more waste-to-energy plants. My main concern is the collection process. People need to be made aware of how to properly dispose of waste and take instructions from government bodies, including municipal corporations, seriously.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has mandated the use of 20% recycled products. We have committed to our C&D waste plant operators that we will purchase whatever they produce. Currently, 70% of the paver blocks used by the Municipal Corporation are made from C&D waste. However, there are still issues with the acceptance of earth materials from these plants, as people are uncomfortable with the idea. The key challenge remains the collection of waste in a city like Delhi. The mindset must change. Waste disposal impacts ecology, the environment, and everything around us. People continue to dump waste indiscriminately, and this is the issue we must address.
