Chennai, Sept 17:
The Greater Chennai Corporation has collected ₹6.60 lakh in fines from 120 Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) for violating solid waste management rules during an enforcement drive conducted over the past 40 days from August 6.
The action covers 120 violators among the 3,204 registered Bulk Waste Generators in the city. The Corporation has also announced stricter enforcement of waste segregation rules from October 1.
From October 1, all Bulk Waste Generators will have to segregate waste at source and hand it over either to the Greater Chennai Corporation or to empanelled waste-management vendors. In zones where the Corporation undertakes source segregation, its workers will collect the segregated waste. Workers have also been instructed to transport different categories of waste in separate compartments of garbage collection vehicles.
Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, establishments are classified as Bulk Waste Generators based on their waste generation, built-up area or water consumption. The criteria include generating 100 kg or more of solid waste a day, having a built-up area of 20,000 square metres or more, or consuming 40,000 litres or more of water a day.
Corporate offices, residential welfare associations, hotels, hospitals, IT parks, marriage halls and other commercial establishments can come under the BWG category.
Around 90 per cent of eligible Bulk Waste Generators within the Greater Chennai Corporation limits have registered. The remaining establishments have been directed to complete their registration through the Central Pollution Control Board portal.
Non-compliant establishments can face fines ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000, besides further enforcement action in case of continued violations.
The Corporation has mandated four-way segregation of waste at source using colour-coded bins. The categories are biodegradable waste, non-biodegradable waste, sanitary waste, and domestic hazardous or special-care waste.
Bulk Waste Generators are also required to maintain records relating to waste processing and disposal and submit the prescribed reports through the GCC and CPCB online portals. Zonal staff and Swachh Bharat campaigners will assist establishments with the online reporting process.
The Corporation has said source segregation is aimed at reducing the quantity of waste sent to landfill sites and improving waste processing and recycling. With stricter enforcement scheduled from October 1, Bulk Waste Generators across Chennai have been advised to ensure that waste is properly segregated, processed or handed over through authorised channels to avoid penalties.