BMC workers refuse to pick up sanitary waste from some Wadala societies

Despite its own manual saying it is dry waste, BMC is confused

MUMBAI: Workers of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are refusing to collect dry refuse in which sanitary waste is present, from some residential complexes in Wadala, a resident has complained. The BMC workers also do not collect biomedical waste and instead, have said residents must approach dispensaries near by to safely dispose it. This is happening despite sanitary waste being categorised under dry waste by the BMC, according to the online manual of the corporation. A corporator of the BMC, under condition of anonymity, said, “Wadala and the nearby areas are repeatedly facing this issue. The BMC is still confused whether to consider sanitary waste as dry or biomedical waste. Due to this confusion, the collectors refuse to pick up the dry waste containing sanitary waste.” “Dry waste is collected only twice or thrice a week from our area. Workers refuse to pick it up if sanitary waste is mixed in it, which is usually the case. We have repeatedly complained to the BMC. But the corporation is not taking any cognisance of this issue,” complained a resident of Dosti Realty, Wadala. If this situation continues, there is a possibility of infection due to the accumulation of sanitary waste, residents fear. Another resident questioned the approach of the BMC regarding the disposal of biomedical waste. “Households with patients are already stressed. How can the BMC expect them to go elsewhere to dispose of the biomedical waste?” questioned the resident. However, a civic official said, “Under the new policy, a residential complex with more than 100 flats or 4,000 square metres area, garbage is collected twice or thrice a week. The watchmen of these complexes are aware about the pick-up days. But we have not heard any complaints about sanitary waste. However, we will enquire with the concerned authorities.”