DO we need Dustbins on our roads?

[kamla ravikumar]

Chennai city has signed a contract with a new company to remove garbage from the streets.

Why does garbage come on the streets? Because the bin provided can take garbage of only 5-10 households.If the street ( which has mostly aparments) has more than 30 households how can the garbage bin hold it?Instead if door-to-door collection is done the garbage will stay within the households and will not litter the streets.Whycan't corporations understnad this?

Nowhere in the world have I seen garbage bins on streets with garbage spilling over.

[Ravindra Gavali]

Culturally, we r brought up with the notion that its not our responsibility to take care of our waste/dirt. Unless, this notion is not changed and one has to be responsible for his own waste, things will not change. That's why we spit anywhere, shit anywhere and throw waste anywhere in the public or common property. In our country, the best way to identify common property resource or public property is the place where we can spit or litter easily.

The same Indians, when in other countries, behave so responsibly because of there is no culture of making public places dirty or there no specially assigned or culturally or traditionally responsible people or community to take of our waste. Its historically imbibed in us. Now, because our country's constitution allows us to select our jobs, these culturally and traditionally responsible people for cleaning waste are not available or cannot be forced upon. Things have changed, so do we have to change our habits and behaviour. Nobody will enjoy doing dirty jobs, unless its well managed and not made to look dirty.

I think it should start from our home; educating our children to be responsible for their own waste. It will take years to imbibe in our new culture. Only making laws wont change the things fast, but still they are needed.

[kamla ravikumar]

Is it the job of only environmentalists and Environment agencies to worry about garbage ...which we generate?The Kabadiwallah collects all the old newspapers/ bottles & plastic waste.If the Kitchen waste can be composted we don't need to sign these contracts for huge anounts with agencies to pick up our garbage.Household waste can be easily managed.What needs management is the E-waste and Hospital waste.Unfortunately polyclinics dump their garbage into wayside bins with syringes and other waste which is very dangerous.

[GOPI KANTA GHOSH]

Problem is we have guided missiles with misguided people. If garbage can be organized it can be great and valuable source to give us energy, fertilizer, oil and so on.

[kamla ravikumar]

Mr.Pillai I am referring to garbage bins on streets maybe I used the wrong term "Dustbins"?They do the same job though.The issue here is why do we need them on streets in residential colonies when corporation signs huge contracts with agencies for door-to-door collection?

Mr.Raman, regarding your comment about garden waste.Composting is the best solution.If only each resident took sometime out for this issue .Composting of garden waste in your own backyard can generate excellent compost for your plants.

[Anjali Karambhe]

Door to Door collection of garbage by muncipal corporation is abest practice but is not followed regularly.If it is practiced regulary, the overall scenario will be differeent.

[Prof Dr V N Sivasankara Pillai]

Garbage bin are recommended for streets (not dust bins), especially for busy streets. Travelers generate garbage, and there must be some place where it can be left behind. Otherwise they have to carry the same with them till they find a suitable place (bin) to leave it. The size, colour coding, numbers per km etc have to be decided.

[V.K. Raman]

Door to door collection of garbage is not happening regularly.  Many a days, no body turns up and you cannot keep on the kitchen waste, etc., waiting to be collected.  Other than household waste, there are dried leaf, branches of trees, coconut fronds, etc. which are dumped in the street corner.  Moreover, street dogs/cattle dig the bins and the contents are strewen around. 

[Unnikrishnan]

The people should be educated regarding zero waste production. 

[Shaik. Asia]

Best practice....if it get successful, can spread to all our metro cities. congested roads can be improved...