Chennai, Aug 24:
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will make source-level waste segregation mandatory for bulk waste generators, including apartment complexes, hotels and other establishments, from September 1.
Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran warned that establishments failing to follow the segregation rules would face penalties. The decision was announced during a review meeting on solid waste management held at Ripon Buildings.
Under the new system, bulk waste generators will have to segregate waste at the point of generation into four categories — wet waste, dry waste, sanitary waste and hazardous waste.
Corporation officials have been instructed to continue awareness campaigns among residents and establishments before enforcement begins. Door-to-door awareness drives have already started in the southern zones and will subsequently be extended to the northern and central zones.
The Corporation is also accelerating efforts to remove legacy waste from Chennai’s major dump yards through biomining.
At the Perungudi dump yard, the first phase of biomining has been completed, resulting in the recovery of 94 acres of land. The second phase involves removal of around 5.5 lakh tonnes of waste, of which approximately 28,000 tonnes has already been cleared.
At the Kodungaiyur dump yard, biomining is being undertaken to remove around 66 lakh tonnes of waste. Around 44 lakh tonnes has already been cleared, helping reclaim approximately 16 acres of land.
At Athipattu, around one lakh cubic metres of waste was removed during the first phase. The second phase involves clearing 72,000 tonnes, with around 36,000 tonnes already removed.
The Corporation Commissioner has directed officials to closely monitor the biomining projects and accelerate the remaining work.
The measures are aimed at improving waste segregation, strengthening solid waste management and ensuring scientific disposal of legacy waste across Chennai.