Kodagu's Madikeri Dasara generates 25% less waste this year following plastic bottle ban
According to City Municipal Commissioner Ramesh, nearly eight tractor-loads of waste were collected during the post-Dasara clean-up operation.
Madikeri: The quantity of waste generated during this year's Madikeri Dasara celebrations declined by 25% compared to the previous year, with the ban on plastic bottles and improved waste management practices contributing to the reduction.
According to City Municipal Commissioner Ramesh, nearly eight tractor-loads of waste were collected during the post-Dasara clean-up operation. Unlike previous years, sanitation workers did not find even a single sack of discarded plastic water bottles across the city.
The absence of plastic bottles is being attributed to the ban on the sale and use of plastic bottles with a capacity of less than two litres within Madikeri city limits. The restriction, introduced last year, appears to have made a significant difference. During the previous Dasara celebrations, around 5,000 to 6,000 plastic bottles were recovered from the city after the festivities.
The reduction in waste also considerably shortened the cleaning operation. Last year, around 60 sanitation workers took five days to clear approximately 25 tonnes of waste from the city. This year, the post-celebration clean-up was completed in just one-and-a-half days.
Ramesh said the waste collected this year mainly comprised discarded plastic materials, including packaging and items used for children's toys. A few liquor bottles were also found in the parking area of the district stadium.
He added that several street vendors, including those who had obtained vending tenders, took responsibility for maintaining cleanliness by gathering their waste in bags and removing it themselves.
Apart from the plastic bottle restriction, the comparatively smaller gathering of visitors also contributed to the lower waste generation. The prohibition on using loudspeakers after 10 pm and rainfall during the celebrations were among the other factors cited for the reduction, Ramesh said.
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