The foul smell caused by compacted and fresh waste at Tiruchi Corporation’s sprawling dump yard in the suburb of Ariyamangalam continues to linger in the residential and commercial areas here, despite the bio-mining project to process the piles of garbage.
The dump yard, spread over 47 acres, is estimated to receive approximately 470 tonnes of garbage daily, in addition to several lakh cubic metres of accumulated (legacy) waste. Residents say while the bio-mining of waste has reduced some of the bigger mounds of garbage, and led to a reduction in the number of fire accidents at the yard, the dour of rotting waste hangs in the air.
“The smell of the compacted waste is strongest during the rainy season. Long-term residents have become accustomed to it, but the emissions can cause respiratory ailments. On the days when the waste is burning, the air is filled with particulate matter,” said Rajasekhar, who has been running a television repair shop near the yard for the past 25 years.
Several residents said that many families had vacated the suburb due to health concerns.
Social activists pointed out that the dump yard had affected the quality of life in suburban neighbourhoods. “The area is home to several educational institutions, and is an important link to other cities in the delta region. Having a huge dump yard here is a fire and safety hazard because of the methane emitted by the legacy waste. The Corporation should diversify its management of solid waste to facilities in other locations,” said R. Raja, district secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions.
Disposal strategies
In May, the Corporation invited tenders to undertake the third phase of the bio-mining project to segregate and process accumulated solid waste at the dump yard. The project was to be implemented at a cost ₹40.85 crore sanctioned under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
A senior Corporation official said told The Hindu that several steps were taken to monitor the dump yard’s waste accumulation and ensure its safe disposal. “We are getting started on the fourth phase of bio-mining. Tiruchi generates 430 to 470 tonnes of trash a day, in addition to green waste and silt. The segregation of at least 200 tonnes is done at the primary level, through 39 micro-compost centres. Besides Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), we have proposed a bio-compressed natural gas (CNG) plant to process approximately 100 tonnes of fruit and vegetable waste. Approximately 20 to 30 tonnes of fresh meat and poultry waste is being recycled as fodder pellets at the yard,” he said.
A plan to shred and process garden waste at source is being considered.
“At present, the Corporation is sending 10 to 15 tonnes of plastic waste to cement factories. Once the bio-mining is over, we are looking to increase the green cover in the area. The public should help by separating domestic trash, and opt for recycling. Waste [disposal] is everybody’s responsibility, and its management needs public cooperation as well,” said the official.
