NEW DELHI: In a move to achieve 100 per cent composting of organic waste, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning to increase the number of green waste management centres to 52 across the city in coming years.
Officials said this move would help in terminating the need to buy compost while helping in checking air pollution and encouraging the scientific disposal of green waste. According to the official, at present, 38 green waste management centres are functional across Delhi with average monthly production of 70 MT compost.
The erstwhile South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), now merged with other North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), had first started green waste management.
“We have been doing green waste management for the last few years in SDMC. Now that all three corporations have been merged to become MCD, we want to implement it across Delhi. The work is underway,” the official said.
“The department is working towards achieving 100 per cent of composting of green waste. At present, it stands at 73 per cent. For this, we need at least one green waste management centre for 52 acres area,” he added.
Green waste is any organic waste that can be composted like grasses, leaves, small branches and pruning. For green waste management, several vehicles are required for the transportation of waste to the centres. Besides, several pieces of equipment are required to ensure the complete management of waste. Speaking on the resources required to augment the composting strength, the official said that the horticulture department would need around Rs 14 crores of budget.
“The department needs around Rs three crores for procurement of shredder-cum-wood chipper, MS weld mesh and vermicomposting beds for the proper function of 52 Green waste management centres. Meanwhile, over Rs 10 crore is required for the maintenance of roadside trees and the lifting of green waste. This money will be used to buy 25 additional trucks, eight new ambulances, 14 new hydraulic tree pruners and 67 drivers,” he added. The department also needs 44 additional chippers, 700 vermicomposting beds against the current 301, and 400 MS weld mesh composting units.