Compost units: Deaf ear to warning, only 75 hotels comply

HYDERABAD: Out of 276 hotels in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits that generate more than 100kg waste per day, only 75 have set up on-site waste composting machines and installation is under way in another eight hotels. Even the star hotels are on the offenders list for flouting Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
GHMC Commissioner M Dana Kishore, who is also Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) MD, had warned the hoteliers by setting a deadline of August 15, which was later extended to November 15.He had also warned that water connection will be disconnected of hotels (Bulk Garbage Generators category) who don’t set up composting machines by November
15. It was only after the civic chief’s warning that present units were installed. However, civic body’s attempt of organising exhibitions exclusively for hoteliers and displaying the composting units yielded fewer results.
As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, all the organisations generating above 100kg waste per day are considered as BGGs and it is mandatory for them to install on-site compost machines to recycle the waste. Not only hotels, all the central government departments, state government departments, companies, hospitals and universities whose average waste generation exceeds 100kg per day should have their own unit to compost or recycle waste, instead of transporting it to Jawaharnagar dumpyard.
Officials said they will first crack down on hotels with star rating and popular food joints first. “We will serve notices and take stringent action on star hotels and popular eateries as they can afford units. Later, we will focus on medium size eateries,” said Soma Bharat, project manager, Swachh Bharat Mission (GHMC). GHMC also offered 25% discount on waste collection charges for the leftover garbage.