Waste Management | Citizen Matters, Chennai

Nine incinerators planned for city; it’s time to pause and rethink

October 23, 2020 Bhavani Prabhakar

Civic bodies are on a spree to set up incineration plants to dispose of non-recyclable waste. Chennai’s first, operational for eight months, hasn’t been a positive experience though.

What will it take to make Chennai’s new waste management system a success?

October 14, 2020 K L Balasubramanian

The new waste contractor took over on October 1st. A member of an RWA engaged in pioneering waste management practices shares his thoughts on the new system.

Another Gandhi Jayanti. Yet another journey towards a cleaner Chennai

October 2, 2020 Meenakshi Ramesh

An active SWM volunteer is cautiously hopeful that the new service provider will help Chennai improve its source segregation and solid waste management record.

Here is how a Chennai apartment is segregating waste, even during COVID-19

August 7, 2020 Aishwarya Ram

While segregation has taken a backseat in the entire city due to the pandemic, The Atrium has managed to keep it all running almost perfectly. Here is the model they follow.

How the coronavirus pandemic has slowed down Chennai’s waste management efforts

July 13, 2020 Aruna Natarajan

With door-to-door collection suspended in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, source segregation has taken a hit. Making matters worse is the indiscriminate disposal of masks, gloves and plastic sanitiser bottles.

Syringes, casts by the waterfront: Chennai flouts biomedical waste disposal rules

March 3, 2020 Bhavani Prabhakar

Indiscriminate dumping of biomedical waste — especially around waterbodies and in landfills — is rampant and activists in the city are gravely concerned about its implications. What are the rules being violated and why are authorities unable to control this?

Let’s swap, not shop: Snapshots and conversations from Chennai’s ‘Reuse and Reduce Sale’

January 14, 2020 Mahesh V

Take a look at scenes from the Swap Sale organised by Chennai Corporation, and hear about the thought and philosophy behind the event from one of the key organisers, Alby John Varghese, Regional Deputy Commissioner (South).

How clean is litter-free Bessie beach, really?

January 10, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Three days after the Chennai Corporation declared Besant Nagar Beach litter free, we spoke to a few visitors to gauge the ground reality.

Economy

Here’s how Chennai’s novel Madras Waste Exchange is incentivising recycling

January 8, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Creating an ecosystem for a market-based ‘waste economy’ has given a big boost to dry waste recycling in the city, says Azhagu Pandiaraja M P, one of the core members who created the Madras Waste Exchange. Find out more about the unique initiative in this exclusive interview.

2020-ல் சென்னைக்கான எதிர்பார்ப்புகள் என்ன?

December 31, 2019 Sandhya Raju

What can we expect for Chennai in 2020? Will our public spaces be cleaner? Banner-free streets a reality? Can we conserve water effectively to avoid a repeat of the water crisis?

Residents of this Chennai neighbourhood have stopped tonnes of waste from reaching the landfills

December 26, 2019 V C Kannan

ROKA (Residents of Kasturba Nagar Association) has created a model for change at the neighbourhood level and made significant progress in source segregation through the sustained efforts of volunteers, aided by a helping hand from the Chennai Corporation.

Photos: Can you guess what these sculptures have been made from?

December 21, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Tonnes of metal waste are being converted into beautiful pieces of art at the Government ITI, Guindy and Adyar zone of Chennai Corporation. These could also pave the way towards realisation of Chennai’s zero-waste goal.

New e-tricycles to make garbage collection easy for conservancy workers

December 4, 2019 Arun Joy

A batch of electric tricycles have been procured by the Greater Chennai Corporation for collection of waste. The tricycles are expected to reduce the physical burden on conservancy workers and enable swifter collection of waste.

How to turn a littered pathway into a playground: Kotturpuram children create an example

November 18, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

A week ago, the passageway near Block H of Kotturpuram Housing Board resembled a mini dump yard with bags full of domestic waste strewn all around. Today, it is a clean, colourful space, buzzing with kids and youngsters who have actually led this transformation.

Three-way segregation, as in Bengaluru, soon to be streamlined in Chennai: Alby John, RDC South

October 15, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Alby John Varghese, Regional Deputy Commissioner (South) has been trying to make a meaningful difference in the areas of waste management, rainwater harvesting and restoration of water bodies. In this exclusive interview, he talks of the various initiatives undertaken.