Nov. 9, 2009 (The Hindu Business Line) --

Mangalore, Nov. 9

Two of the city corporations in Karnataka have bagged the first and second positions in solid waste management (NYSE:WM) at the national level.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, Mr Shankar Bhat, Mangalore Mayor, said that the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has secured the second position in solid waste management in the country.

The Mysore City Corporation has bagged the first position in solid waste management.

Mr Bhat said that the first international conference on solid waste management — organised by the Centre for Quality Management System of Jadhavpur University in Kolkata —has placed MCC in the second position amongst the 102 urban local bodies.

The MCC collects around 220 tonnes of solid waste every day. Stating that solid waste collection is increasing every year, he said total solid waste collection in Mangalore was around 160 tonnes a day two years ago. The city corporation is spending around Rs 9.75 crore a year for solid waste management, he said.

Dr K.N. Vijayaprakash, Commissioner of MCC, said that the corporation needs to work more for solid waste management.

The MCC is planning to increase the capacity of the solid waste-based compost manufacturing unit on the outskirts of the city from the present 145 tonnes a day to 200 tonnes. The Government has released Rs 1 crore for this purpose, he said.

The MCC has asked the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation to come out with proposals to make better use of the solid waste in the city.

These proposals are aimed at recycling of plastic waste in the city, and at preparing green bricks out of solid waste, he added.