SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CALICUT CORPORA TION
5.0 Normally environmental degradation is perceived in terms of
industrial pollution, deforestation, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity and
so on. Solid wastes have moved to the centre of the environmental stage
in the last 10 to 15 years due to the exponential growth of the P game,
i.e. growth and concentration of People, Products, Power, Pollutants and
Places. The Pneumonic Plague, which hit Surat in September 1994 made
the people conversant on the problem of pile of rotting garbage.
Recently the unattended garbage is considered as a hard nut to be
cracked under the purview of environmental problems.
Waste materials are generated in three forms of matter, namely
solid, liquid and gaseous. Liquid and gaseous wastes are permitted to
escape from the sources only after proper treatment to make them
hazard free. Moreover these two forms are generated in dangerous and
bulk quantities only by limited number of concerns which are identified.
But waste in solid form is generated by individuals, households and
commercial establishments irrespectively. Even in better managed cities
the problem of solid waste disposal and management appear almost
intractable. The studies conducted by different agencies reveal that the
problems of solid waste pollution are almost identical in metropolitan
cities and smaller towns across the country.
Reliable estimates of solid waste generation are not readily
available, most of the estimates are based on per capita norms. It is
estimated that each urban resident generates 350 to 1,000 grns of solid
wastes every day. If the wastes from commercial and industrial
establishments are considered the total waste generated per day will add
upto an enormous quantity.
The accumulated and unattended solid wastes lead to serious
problems due to the several types of damages it cause to the
environment. The unscientific disposal of waste materials including
biodegradable and biomedical wastes lead to serious health hazards by
way of water, air and soil pollution. When they are put into open dumps
they min the beauty of the surrounding areas and become an abode of
disease carrying microbes, such as bactena, virus, fungi and dreadful
unicellular organism. Wastes dumped into water bodies lead to various
forms of water pollution and may destroy aquatic habitation. Once the
water stream gets polluted it can't be changed into its previous natural
and non polluted form. Some waste can be destroyed by burning or
incinerating them, but this produces smoke that causes air pollution.
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The negative externalities emerged due to improper disposal of
waste include health damages to human beings and animals, and
aesthetic impairment from unsightly litter and trash accumulation. The
dengue fever and Weil's disease epidemics seen in Kerala for last three
years is an example of how urbanization, urban conveniences and
modernization without proper planning and care of waste management
lead to the spread of disease. Ironically, both the lack of proper waste
management and the provision of improper management trigger disease
syndrome which often become uncontrollable because of lack of
understanding of the dimension of disease.
Moreover the plastic waste content in solid waste are increasing
in a tremendous manner making the problem of waste management as a
complicated one. The throw away plastic bags and pet bottles lead to so
many adverse impacts to human beings and natural habitation. It also
pose a grave danger to cows and other animals which wander about the
city streets for food, the plastics ingested with food, clogs the intestine
and leads to a painful death to the animals. The deaths of some inmates
in Trivandrum zoo in recent past reveal how the plastic containers and
carry bags affect the animal life. From all these contexts, it is clear that
an urgent measure is required for the proper collection and management
of solid waste materials from our surroundings and thereby curbing
pollution.
5.1 Solid Waste Problem in Calicut corporation
As a fast developing city the Calicut corporation also faces the
ever hlminating problem of solid waste pollution. According to 1991
census the corporation has a population of 4,19,831 with 67,468
households, in addition to this nearly one lakh people are considered to
be the floating population of the city per day. The effective population
then come to be 5.25 lakhs. Moreover, the city has 71 6 hotels, more than
70 hospitals 23 1 dispensaries, 150 clinical laboratories 1,3 12 Industr~al
units, 10,661 commercial establishments and a medical college hospital.
Apart from these there are 17 fish markets, one central fish market, one
central vegetable market, 87 beef stalls, 23 mutton stalls and 207
chicken stalls. The city also have 25 commercially rented auditoriums
and 7 cremation grounds, all these establishments are considered as the
major sources of solid waste generation.
A study conducted by Kerala Urban Development Project in
1994, found out that the per capita solid waste generation in Calicut
corporation comes to 203 grams per day. But the recent trend of
consumption panern and higher standard of living changed this rate into
nearly 380 grams per day. The current total waste generation estimated
per day ranges between 220 metric tons to 240 metric, tons. In addition
to this nearly 20 metric tons of solid waste come to corporation through
external sources per day, such a large quantity of waste requires proper
system of collection, transportation and disposal.
In the past the solid waste pollution was not considered as a
problem, at that time the only waste that the corporation authority has to
be managed was the human excreta from pit latrines and dead bodies of
animals within the corporation area. The rubbish and night soil were
collected from the city by corporation authority and taken to the
trenching ground and converted it into compost manure. Moreover the
solid waste at that time mainly consisted of biodegradable contents and
the inhabitants had enough land to dispose them in their own plots. But
recently with increasing population and income, the lifestyle of urban
residents is changing, the use and throw trend is gaining ground
everywhere, and the use of non biodegradable materials for
confectionary packing and throw away coffee cups become the necessity
of life, over the last five years the composition of waste change with
rapid increase in paper, plastic, metal and hazardous materials.
As per available literature the total solid waste generated from a
town like Calicut is expected to have approximately the following
physical composition.
7 Fig. 5.1 Physical composition of solid waste
These values are interpolated approximation by statistical
calculations done on data obtained from similar localities. Out of the
total volume of solid waste generated in the corporation area, the
corporation authority collects an average of 110 to 115 metric tons per
day. About 60 to 65 metric tons of recyclable parts of solid waste are
taken away by rag pickers and waste collectors for recycling and nearly
7 to 9 metric tons are reused by waste generators themselves. The
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remaining parts of solid wastes are dispersed or dumped as unattended
or uncollected waste.
The collection service conducted by corporation authority is
mainly street sweeping and lifting of garbage bins. The poor collection
service leads to unattended waste, which makes the surroundings dirty
and filthy, chokes drains and also promotes the breeding of disease
carrying vectors which may result in epidemics. In this context a proper
garbage collection and disposal ensures good health for the community
on the one hand and a positive impact on the overall socio-economic
condition of the society.
5.2 Solid waste management options
Presently there are two important views about looking at the
problem of solid waste, the first one is coloured 'green' by
environmental concerns and the catchwords are d ~ r t and ugliness, the
management of this view is for cleanliness and beautification of the
surrounding envlronment. In most of the towns and cities this part of
waste management come under the local authority and the problem is
resolved by the formal system of solid waste management. The second
view pertains to recycling or recovery. This part is managed by a wide
143
range of people, from the poorest of the poor in urban areas represented
by the rag pickers through petty traders to the entrepreneurs and workers
involved in manufacturing products from recycled materials and eke out
a living from collecting part of the generated urban waste and
reprocessing it. This informal system of solid waste management also
contributes to cleaning cities, where local authorities fail.
Like, other urban areas, Calicut corporation also consists of
formal and informal system of waste management. About 65 percent of
the total solid waste generated in Calicut corporation is managed by the
corporation authority under the formal system of waste management.
Nearly 60 to 65 metric tons of non bio degradable parts mainly consists
of paper, plastic, metal and glass scrap, which constitute the raw
material for the reprocessing industry handled by informal system of
waste management. This informal system of waste management is
becoming popular through waste collectors consisting of rag pickers and
itinerant buyers. The importance of informal system of waste
management is that this activity reduces the burden of the municipal
system and also provides employment and income to a large number of
people. The advent of plastics, metal cans and the use of sophisticated
packaging materials provide more importance to this informal system of
waste management.
5.3 Formal solid waste management system in Calicut corporation
The Calicut corporation authority contributes significantly to
community health and hygiene by clearing the streets and public areas in
the city through formal system of waste management. The formal
system consists of collection and transportation of city waste to the
trenching ground and conversion of it into biofertiliser. Collection and
transportation of solid waste is undertaken by the corporation authority
and the processing of waste into manure is under the control of a private
company.
5.3.1 Collection and transportation of solid waste
The management of solid waste is totally under the control of the
health department and the corporation health officer regulates the
functions of this department. For the administratwe convenience the
corporation area is divided into 16 sanitary circles, the health supervisor
controls the activities of all these circles. Each of the circle is under the
control of a health inspector, below him there is health assistants, junior
health inspectors and sanitary supervisors. The table 5.1 shows the total
strength of administrative staff in Calicut corporation for solid waste
management.
Table 5.1 Administrative staff strength of solid waste management
in Calicut corporation r I
SI. No.
1
/ 4 1 Health inspectors l 4 1
2
3
Description
Health officer
Number
1
Health supervisor
First grade health inspectors
5
6
1
2
I
Junior health inspectors
Sanitary supervisors
Total
39
6
5 3
Source: Corporation Records
Out of the generated solid waste nearly 60-65 percent is collected
by corporation authority by employing waste management workers.
They also perform the duty of street sweeping and drainage cleaning.
Each circle in Calicut corporation contains 8 sweepers, 4 drain cleaners,
4 cart men and 15 sanitary workers. The table 5.2 shows the total
strength of workers engaged in waste management of Calicut
corporation.
Table 5.2 Strength of workers in formal system of waste
management
1 5 1 Trenching ground workers 1 25 1
S1. No.
1
2
3
4
1 6 1 Transport wing workers 1 66 1
Description
Sweepers
Drain cleaners
Cart men
Sanitary workers
For the purpose of collection, corporation placed nearly 750
Number
212
87
120
134
Total
dustbins in different locations of the town and there are 6 sub depots
644
also working for this purpose. Apart from these, seven modem
Source: Corporation Records
containers are placed in most important waste generating places of
corporation area. The collected waste from the corporation area is
transported to the trenching ground at Njellian Paramba, 10 Kilometers
away from the centre town and situated in the adjoining Cheruvannur
panchayat for hrther processing.
The transport wing of Calicut corporation for solid waste
management consists of 106 hand carts, 42 wheel barrels, 18 tractor
with trailers, 6 tipper lorries, 2 multi handling dumper placers, 7
containers and one excavator. The total strength of drivers for this
pupose is not adequate, the corporation has 34 drivers, out of this 25 are
tractor drivers and 9 are heavy vehicle drivers, these drivers are also
utilized for other driving duties of the corporation.
The trenching ground at Njellian Paramba have a total area of 18
acres and 4 cents adjoined to the national highway, the area is fenced by
compound walls around the ground, but there is way for illegal entry to
this ground. Since the contraries are not separated the collected solid
waste contains plastic gloves, metals, slaughter house waste and even
hospital waste, this attracts birds, stray dogs and rag pickers. The waste
strewn around this place is further disbursed by birds like crows, eagles
etc. Nearly 400 families are inhabited in the surrounding area of
trenching ground, they had complained about the foul smell emanating
from trenching ground. During rainy season the seepage from the
ground reaches to the wells of neighbouring areas, the disbursing of
waste particles by birds also contaminate the water sources of adjoining
area. Doctors in this area are of the opinion that there is high incidence
of worms' infection compared to other localities having no
environmental pollution. The high rate of fly population and mosquitos
148
can be assigned due to atmosphere pollution of this area. Fortunately,
people still survive in this locality, the credit should go to the natural
immunity they have acquired and the gift of longevity of life.
5.3.2 Processing of solid waste
Calicut corporation use the conventional trench method of land
filling of solid waste upto the last year, but recently due to the continued
agitation of the inhabitants of surrounding area of the trenching ground,
a new technique of bioconversion of waste into biofertiliser is started by
corporation under the control of a private company. Now the solid waste
is converted into usehl organic manure through controlled aerobic
composting and mechan~cal s~eving. The corporation set up the plant
with technical know how of Excel industries, Mumbai. All organic
matters will be converted into manure by biological process, the matters
like, plastics, metal, paper and other nondegradable wastes separated on
mechanical sieving are disposed off by land fill operation. All necessary
infrastructure facilities are prov~ded by the corporation and the
processing is done by the Excel industries under lease mechanism.
The processing conslsts of two stages, known as biological
process for decomposition of city waste and a mechanical process for
screening the decomposed organic matter. The existing plant has a
processing capacity of 300 metric tons per day, but now it is utilizing a
processing capacity of 100 metric tons with one shift working. The
processing of waste started with the spraying of a biological innoculum,
known as 'Celrich substrate DF-BC-01' it is a mixture of biological
enzymes and herbal extracts, the innoculam is prepared by using the
mixture of bacteria, cow dung and water. Within a couple of hours after
the application of innoculam solid waste becomes free from foul smell
and hazardous pathogens. The treated garbage is then stacked in the
form of windrows. Separate windrows will be formed for each day's
collection, these windrows will be turned once in a week for proper
aeration, so that aerobic process continues unintenupted. Progress of
composting is monitored by measuring inside temperature of the heap
and the level of moisture. For optimum results, the temperature has to be
between 65-70 degree centigrade and the moisture level should be 25%,
this stage of composting is completed with in 20-25 days period.
The second stage is mechanical process for screening out the
digested organic matter in the form of powder free from all impurities.
The digested compost is highly heterogeneous having impurities of
various shapes, sizes and texture, hence the screening has to be done in
150
different stages, suitable machines based on different screening
principles are employed at different stages. Digested compost firstly fed
to the tray feeder by front end loader, the garbage thereafter pass
through a rotary sifter where unwanted and undigested material like
plastics, bigger stones, bottles etc, are separated out. Output of this
rotary sifter is lifted through a bucket elevator and fed to a vibrating
screen which separate smaller pebbles and impurities. The screened
organic matter then sent through a stone separator with arrangements for
separation, the output in the finer form then fed to the paddle mixer,
imoculam containing various useful microbes, like Azetobactor,
Rhyzobium, and micro nutrients are sprayed into the mixture in required
proportion for enriching the compost. The final product i.e. biofert~lizer
is then packed and marketed by the company. This end product has a
very good acceptability among the farmers for agriculture as well as
horticulture crops, it improves soil fertility, soil texture and water
retention capacity of soil, thereby increasing production.
The existing plant in Calicut corporation is working under the
control of Wynsem Agro Products under a subleasing mechanism. The
company employs a total of 22 employees at office, plant and yard, the
detailed description of the labour strength is given in table 5.3.
Table 5.3 Employees description of Wynsem Agro Products
1 Description I No. 1 Descri~tion 1 No. 1 Descri~tion I No. / r YARD
Workers Workers Office Manager
Supervisors Office Assistant
J.C.B. Drivers Bobcat operators
I Helpers I 2 I Fitters 1 2 1 I 1
PLANT OFFICE
Apart from the plant machineries, the plant uses two J.C.B. and
two Bobcats for their processing operations.
Total
5.4 Cost of collection and transportation
Total cost of collection and transportation of solid waste in
Calicut corporation include the capital expenditure and revenue
expenditure incurred for this purpose, the capital expenditure incurred
mainly for the purchase of vehicles and containers for storage, collection
and transportation. The salary of administrative staff and workers, fuel
and repair charges, maintenance expenses and other miscellaneous
Source Company Records
10
Plant Manager
Total
1
10 Total 2
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expenses come under revenue expenditure for collection and
transportation. The table 5.4 reveals the total vehicles and containers
used by Calicut corporation for collection and transportation and their
corresponding costs.
Table 5.4 Capital cost of vehicles and containers
Description / N o I Cost (Rs.) 1 I
2 I I I
/ 6 1 Tipper lorries @ 7.5 lakhs 1 6 / 45,00,000 1
Dust bins @ Rs. 3,000 each
Containers @ Rs. 30,000 each
3
4
5
Multi handling dumper placers @ 10
Excavator @ 15 lakhs
Total 2,40,27,600
Source: Corporation Records
The table 5.5 reveals the monthly salary paid to the administrative
staff of Calicut corporation for the management of solid waste.
750
7
Wheel barrels @ Rs. 2,800 each
Tractor with trailors @ 6 lakhs
22,50,000
2,10,000
26,50,000 Hand carts @ Rs. 25,000 each 106
42
1 8
1,17,600
1,08,00,000
Table 5.5 Monthly salary of administrative staff for solid waste
management
S1. No.
1
2
3
The table 5.6 shows the monthly remuneration paid to workers
4
5
6
engaged in collection and transportation of solid waste in the study area.
Description
r
Health officer
Health supervisor
First grade health inspector
Table 5.6 Monthly remuneration to workers in collection and
Source: Corporation Budget, 2001-2002.
Health inspector
Junior health inspector
Sanitary supervisor
Total
No.
1
1
2
Amount (Rs.)
14,852.00
11,732.00
16,916.00
4
39
6
53
transportation wing
Y
3 1,992.00
2,91,174.00
33,468.00
4,00,134.00
SI. No.
1
3
2 1 Cart men 1 120 1 4,99,516.80
Drain cleaners
5
Amount (Rs.) Descr~ption
4 1 Sanitarv workers 1 134 1 5,41,387.40
Sweepers
Total
No.
87
6 1 Trans~ort wing workers 1 66 1 2.70.246.00
Trenching ground workers
3,48,948.00
212
25 1 87,130.00
Source: Corporution Budget, 2001-2002.
644
8,58,688.00
26,05,916.20
The corporation also incurred Rs. 21,59,008.00 for fuel and repair
of vehicles used for collection and transportation and a maintenance
expense of Rs. 4,31,446.00 during last year. Apart from these
corporation spend Rs. 8,40,008.00 as miscellaneous expenses for
collection and transportation of solid waste. Out of these expenses the
monthly expense of the corporation incurred for collection and
transportation is calculated and given in table 5.7
Table 5.7 Monthly expenses for collection and transportation of solid waste
Description Amount (Rs.)
I 1 1 Adjusted capital depreciation (@ 10%) 1 2,00,230.00 / 1 2 / Salary to administrative staff 1 4,00,134.00 1
By incurring Rs. 34,92,158.60 the corporation authority collects
and transports a monthly average of 3,450 metric tons of solid waste
from the corporation area. The cost per ton for the collection and
3
4
5
6
Source; Estimated from corporation Budget, 2001-2002
Remuneration to workers
Fuel and repair charges
Maintenance expenses
Miscellaneous expenses
Total
26,05,916.20
1,79,924.00
35,953.80
70,000.60
34,92,158.60
transportation is calculated as Rs. 1,012.22 in the formal system of solid
waste management of Calicut corporation.
5.5 Processing cost of formal solid waste management
The collected solid waste within the study area is processed by a
private company through the bioconversion technique. The total project
cost of the processing unit is illustrated in table 5.8.
Table 5.8 Project cost of processing unit
Items --- --
1 1 I Land development
/ 3 ( Handling machines 1 53.00 1 2
1 4 1 Processing machines
Building, Roads etc.
1 6 1 lnnoculation system 1 2.00 /
135.08
5
r r i t i s iii Other assets
Technical know how
Total 350.58
Source; Project Repon
Electricals 10.00
Apart from the project cost the corporation incurred some capital
expenditure for purchasing more vehicles and the equipment5 for this
scheme. The total capital cost of the scheme then come to Rs. 537 lakhs.
This cost is met through central government aid, state government aid,
loan from Hudco and corporation fund. As per project report the fixed
cost incurred per year come to Rs. 96.5 lakhs and variable cost come to
Rs. 550 per ton. The daily production of biofertiliser is 20 metric tons
and the total cost per ton is calculated as 1,890.30 for processing.
The processed material branded as 'Biogreeen' is marketed by the
company in 50 Kgs bags at a price of Rs 2751- per bag. The total
production of fertilizer comes to 600 metric tons per month and it yields
33 lakhs Income to the company. Apart from the income from the sale of
the product the company earns an average of Rs. 3,500 per month from
the sale of rejected recyclable rnatenals of production process to the
waste dealen. The company pays a lease value of Rs. 30 lakhs and a
royalty of Rs. 20 lakhs to the corporation per annum as a major part of
their expenditure.