In the ideal world

According to me, segregation of waste into dry waste and wet waste is the duty of every citizen and anyone not following the same must be fined strongly about it. I think it is a very good idea on part of BMC to make this a ‘cluster’ implementation. Means the thought of fining a building heavily if even one family is non cooperative is a very good one. This is how they get a good success in micro-finance schemes. From here, it has gone all downhill.

Though segregation is uncommon, fines are only occasionally levied. Who qualifies for a fine and who does not? BMC is afraid to enforce its own rules. If they begin to enforce the rules, they will have to face two acute problems- one that they do not have a proper management system in place and second that they will have to take on some vested interests who may be benefitting from the current system.  BMC needs to turn its PR machinery 180 degrees and use it to create some sense in its own system first.

A time- bound program needs to be made about creating a new system of waste management WITHOUT tying it up with the legacy waste that’s lying around in the dump yards. Awareness should first be carried out in the different departments of BMC itself. Right from the commissioner to the sweepers, all should be first made to attend training seminars on the topic so that their knowledge becomes up to date.  Both dry waste and wet waste collection vehicles should be sent to the respective areas for collection. Fines should be levied on the buildings who don’t comply. 

Just making the citizens responsible for everything is completely unfair. BMC needs to do its part, that too systematically. Some accountability needs to be brought into the system so citizens do not feel cornered and become rebellious.

DRY WASTE- 2

BMC dry waste collection service consists of a van and its driver, contract staff from an approved self- help group or NGO with a BMC supervisor. The building signs a sort of contract and collection days are decided. BMC has a slightly different segregation chart and we have to give coconut shells and small wood pieces in dry waste only. After all the handshaking was done, work had to start. First they refused to collect  certain categories of items- thermacol was left behind. Inspite of the presence of the BMC supervisor, the matter had to be escalated to the BMC officer alongwith SPA and our local elected representative as the go- between and then they condescended to 100pc dry waste pick up. Next, they began to allege that ‘cream’ of dry waste like large pieces of cardboard which fetch better price in recycling market were being pilfered by our housekeeping folks- this was not true. Still I cooperated because we had no proof as our building has no CCTV cameras and I instructed my housekeeping staff that the dry waste be left alone in very strong words. Next they refused to get down from the vehicle to load the dry waste into the van- as their timing was never fixed I was unable to arrange for housekeeping staff to help them in loading. And I could not expect watchmen and private drivers to fill in. This problem keeps recurring from time to time. Once I got the idea that building dry waste could be stored in gunny sacks. The BMC van began to collect the waste along with the gunny sacks- each costing 20- 30 rupees and never returning them. In fact, their belligerence began to reach new heights when they began to demand gunny sacks as a matter of right- time to complain again. BMC told us to store in plastic bins. So we did that- now the loading was done in such a shabby way that the whole building was strewn with dry waste.  The contractors people always come along a demand diwali bonus and the service becomes worse for months as I always refuse.

We are still with this system- for lack of any other system.  I have learnt that this system is a series of dysfunctions which go on in a cyclical manner without (hope) or effort of any conclusive solutions. For a time we are lucky to have an approachable and sincere supervisor- the JO s are really unable to have any control over the system or ‘game’ should I call it? Irregular pick up, shabby collection, pilfering of gunny bag, demanding bakshish/ bonus, alleging that quality of dry waste given is poor, refusing to pick up wastes for petty excuses- all these come up again and again. There is nothing to be done than to pick up the phone and plead, fight, complain etc to get the work done. Like most places in Mumbai, we have limited storage space and simply cannot keep the dry waste. Plus we do not want to create space for rodents and other pests. Every six months BMC sends a cyclostyled notice stating that rules mandate segregation and if it is not done bmc will fine the building, etc etc

As I move around Parle, I notice that the number of ‘kabadiwalas” or dry waste shops is increasing progressively. Earlier they used to collect only newspaper and milk bags, now they have tie-ups with ragpickers and buy the dry waste off them. All the same, the number of people getting into recycling is also increasing progressively. Yet the BMC contractors come and whine continuosly about not getting enough revenue from dry waste collection. This is inspite of the fact that they have been given bmc land for segregation and bmc pays for the collection vehicle. Incidentally in my practice, I sometimes see some addicts who take to selling dry waste to fund their habit. So my conclusion is that the contractors have been lying thats all.

The citizens are in a pathetic position. Most of the people I interact with, are aware and willing to do segregation to take care of environmental pollution.  The average Mumbaikar wants to work towards keeping Mumbai clean and healthy. But how much can we do? If we segregate a host of other problems have to be faced by us- on daily basis there is irritation. And if we do not segregate there is guilt and the threat of fines from BMC. I want to know, who gets fined when BMC mixes the waste or does not pick up the dry waste or is unable to control its staff and contractors from misbehaving with the citizens?

DRY WASTE-1

I have practised wet- dry segregation of wastes for more than a decade now. I started with great enthusiasm and used to keep out two separate bins- one with wet and one with dry waste for collection. In a couple of days I discovered that the cleaner was collecting both in one bin only effectively mixing it. So I started with ‘education’ of the cleaning staff. Cleaning staff are usually simple poor people with a habit of saying ‘Yes’ to everything and then doing whatever is most convenient to them later. It is not that they don’t understand or are purposely non cooperative; only that they do not have the time and the authority to get things moving in a way that they would like it. So ‘Yes’ it was and then back to business as usual. Plus a different member of the family came for collection daily and then each had to be told separately. All in all it meant that I had to keep a watch through the collection process everyday- that was not possible. This was my home- grown waste management system, for several years. Then I noticed that rag-pickers needed dry waste.

 So I started to store the dry waste for upto a week and then call over the local rag-picker to take it. This meant I had to really spend my time one day of the week tracking the whereabouts and really request her to come into the building- this was also a tough thing to do regularly. Next solution was to lug the dry waste on my weekly visit to the market and give it to the dry waste segregation centre directly. But within a couple of months this segregation centre became very irregular in its operations and it used to happen that I would take the dry waste there only to find the collection centre closed- and then had to return with my gunny sack. And then come home and look for a rag-picker to take it- a lot of work!

Thankfully Swacch Parle Abhiyan started around that time and I was relieved that a collection van would be sent home for the dry waste. For some reason- the SPA started insisting on ‘super segregation’ means the dry waste had to be separated into further parts –dry paper, dry plastic, spoilt paper and plastic, e-waste and what- not (I have forgotten the exact details).  And plus there was money to be had from these at fixed rates. It was  a comedy of errors- the dry waste van from the vendor would first arrive late due to traffic, late-coming staff and other usual chaos that characterises such arrangements. Then its movements would be tracked closely on the wa group. Each building used to act like one ‘customer’ demanding that the van come at certain time, park in certain way, collect the stuff and plus there began allegations of dishonesty about weighing and calculations- all for stuff that till then was thoughtlessly dumped in garbage!  See, the dry waste collection system is manned by simple folks who don’t go to B- school (or any school for that matter). But Parlekars and SPA expected that level of organisation nevertheless.  The transaction time for each building was too long as stuff had to be weighed and paid for and then transported separately and therefore not viable. So the ‘super segregation’ was stopped (thankfully). Eventually, door- to- door dry waste collection through SPA was withdrawn to make way for the BMC approved twice- weekly collection service.

SANITARY NAPKINS

Upon reading the concerns of so many people about the problem of sanitary pad disposal, I decided to do some fact- finding.

I first took the used sanitary pads of whisper company and put them for composting. In 2 month’s time all material had completely composted, except the thin plastic lining. When I shared this experience, some people raised mighty objections of ‘infection’, ‘bio hazard’. But I do not agree, menstrual pads from a healthy woman are equivalent to non- vegetarian food- there is no hazard in composting it.  I then proceeded to try out other brands marketed as ‘chemical free’ or ‘ environment friendly’. It was a traumatic 6 months for me. Some pads (sakhi) are small and not properly shaped and caused good deal of discomfort. Another brand (Anandi) had to be ordered by special courier from New Mumbai. The issue with this was the adhesive which remained after washing in strong soap, using hot water, rubbing with acetone.. etc So the panties had to be retired.

In my adolescence, I had plenty of opportunity to use cloth pads that had to be washed. I did not need to experiment that. The pads are good if you are near home or have access to a place where frequent change is possible- or if you are on some pills that minimise the flow. Next washing them uses up enormous quantities of water and leaves quite a smell in the bathroom. Some clot invariably gets left behind some bucket or something and the next user yells at you. The soiled pads need to be stored somewhere (away from rats, ants and pets) because you cannot be washing several times a day. There are significant cultural barriers to handling of pads and your bai will refuse to put them out to dry or even to fold them up after drying; and where is the dignity in hiring someone to do your dirty work?. Plus where will you hang them to dry? All these pose real world problems to women with high intensity life like myself where I manage my patients, my children and rest of the family and have an active social life. So reusable cloth pads like our ancestors is not a practical option.

Tampons seem fine. But again, I am scared to recommend them because in India the access to toilets is not assured and I don’t want anyone to be at risk of severe infection. I could not bring myself to use the menstrual cup. I think, it is a weird and intrusive concept- that’s my personal view. But logically this seems a good environment friendly solution to those who can get used to the idea.

Burning the napkins or incinerating them- if the source is a healthy woman- according to me this is an over- reaction and causes unnecessary pollution. Plus a useless residue is created which is a mixture of burnt plastic and cotton- what to do with that? This is not a practical zero waste solution according to me.

Menstrual hygiene is a big challenge in India. Around 50pc women (and girls) have no access or knowledge about menstrual pads. So actually the number of women using disposable pads is very very low. Lack of menstrual hygiene affects women’s health and quality of life- most women are rendered dysfunctional due to culture- based ostracism and discomfort of not using a proper pad. 50pc of the population are women, out of which only a little more than half will be in the menstruating age- group. Out of which again the use of sanitary pads is less than 40pc. I think the environment impact due to sanitary pads is an exaggerated issue and misogynistic one too. Consider the health and quality of life benefit and compare it with the number of men owning vehicles and the impact of that- I say stop baiting women’s necessary item on the pretext of environmentalism.

About this topic I will say that women should use menstrual pads- WHISPER turned out to be the best bet for me personally. I have no qualms recommending it- gives the best balance of comfort and disposability. Just that whisper people should not give plastic pouches- instead wax lined paper pouches for disposal should be provided. Women should avoid using the plastic pouches provided and wrap the soiled napkin in two layers of newspaper and never flush it down the toilet. The napkin can then degrade wherever it reaches and adding it to your home compost bin should not be a problem at all. At the end of the composting cycle, you will have to sieve the compost to remove the plastic lining that all the pads usually have and these can be sent for recycling.

I exhort readers to comment on this blog. I have written in much detail and apologise for any offence caused....but there was no other option.