WASTE MANAGEMENT
The average waste generation is about 0.4-0.6 kg/capita out of which 30-50% waste is bio-degradable. The SMC is working thoroughly in the field to ensure integrated and scientific solid waste management The waste from households and key bulk waste generators is collected by SMC employees daily, using a system of carts, hoppers, compactors, and trucks. All collected waste is transferred to the sanitary landfill site located at Achan . Resource recovery is done for about 25% of the total quantity of waste, but most of it is dumped into the scientifically designed landfill cells. The SMC is meanwhile actively looking to implement a long-term plan for Integrated Solid Waste Management, which would enable them to materialize the mission to develop Srinagar into a clean, hygienic and litter-free city. The SMC is also taking steps to sensitize the general public about Solid Waste Management through intensive Information Education and Communication (IEC) programs. Currently, 6 IEC Partners have been enlisted to help handhold the SMC to reach out to citizens in all wards. A Project Management Support Unit has also been commissioned to oversee the day-to-day activities of the IEC Partners and monitor their performance.
Daily about 450 metric tons of garbage is being generated within the Srinagar from hotels, restaurants, households poultry outlets which includes about 200 metric tons of Non-Vegetarian waste alone, daily about 40,000 kg of poultry waste is generated from poultry outlets only and if this highly nutritious and energy-rich edible offal is not managed properly each dog can have access to around a kg of such energy-rich diet from poultry offal only, the breeding efficiency and life span of stray dogs can increase and the population can touch the alarming levels (Fig 3). Srinagar Municipal Corporation has been constantly focusing on minimizing the availability of energy-rich garbage to stray dogs on the roads of the city and following effective and vital initiatives that have been launched. Special garbage collection vehicles for collection of poultry offal from most of the poultry outlets have been introduced. Special attention is being paid on the placement of dumper bins during the marriage ceremonies where huge quantity non-vegan food/ waste are being generated. Deployment of the additional fleet of special garbage collection light vehicles, compactors, Dumper placers, twin dumper vehicles, twin dumper bins, Tippers, Land dozers, Hoper vehicles, has resulted in reducing the availability of highly nutritious garbage waste to greater limits. A large number of twin coloured and smart garbage bins across the city have been introduced besides domestic garbage bins are also being distributed to households. Further mass awareness is created by issuing public advisories on dog bites and waste management.