Hyderabad: Hyderabad has seen a steep 154.45 per cent, increase in trash generation between 2000 and 2015. Delhi tops the chart with an increase of 2,075 per cent, followed by Bengaluru (1,750 per cent) and Hyderabad in third place, according to the Central Pollution Control Board report.
The increase in trash generation is directly proportional to increase in consumerism, change in food habits and especially the increased purchases of packaged foods.
The other factors contributing to the rise in trash generation are increase in the urban population, expansion of cities, and migration to urban pockets.
Hyderabad generates around 4,000 metric tonnes of waste every day, of which 3,800 MT is lifted and transported to the dumping yard.
Municipal Solid Waste mainly consists of domestic refuse, non-hazardous wastes such as commercial and institutional garbage, trash from street sweepings and construction debris. It also includes bio-medical waste though this is supposed to be disposed of appropriately by hospitals.
"Hyderabad has expanded to Greater Hyderabad extending to Pantanchervu, Kapra, LB Nagar and 12 municipalities. The maximum increase in the population of the city is in the West and East corridor - that is Miyapur, Kondapur, Gachibowli, Bandlaguda and Serilingampally,” says N Ravi Kiran, Additional Commissioner, GHMC, Health and Sanitation.
He adds that there is also an increase in street vendors and mobile food vans. Basically, it is the increase in the population of the city that has created more waste. Hyderabad had a population of 72 lakh in 2011. It is today 1.3 crore, according to a state government survey.
