East Delhi Municipal Corporation to collect and dispose of scrap

NEW DELHI: After an encouraging response to its schemes for collection of plastic and electronic waste from households and industrial areas, East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has finalised a private contractor for collection, transportation and safe disposal of scrap, including discarded metal, old vehicles and iron items.
A public notice has been uploaded on the EDMC website informing people about the initiative.Details of rates for different materials, contact numbers and time taken for collecting items will be provided within a week once the final agreement is signed, said an official. The agency has also been assigned the task of integrating the unorganised sector in this chain.
“Many unorganised sectors and industries generate huge volumes of scrap but are still not under the ambit of any regulations for scientific disposal of the material. Therefore, it is essential to create a system for chain management and integrate various stakeholders. Now that we have appointed a contractor, the next step is to engage the scrap collectors in the process so that no material is treated in an unscientific manner,” said a senior official.

To begin with, one contractor fulfilling all the norms has been finalised but others will be added in the list eventually. The initiative is aimed at motivating residents and owners in commercial areas to contribute to EDMC’s effort to recycle waste in an environment-friendly manner, rather than selling it to local scrap dealers, the official said.
“Besides collecting scrap from residential, commercial, institutional and industrial areas under EDMC in a time-bound manner, the concessionaire will also ensure its recycling and disposal as per the waste management rules,” the official added.
The empanelled agencies are allowed to operate for a period of three years after paying a fixed monthly royalty to the civic body. “They will be responsible for developing collection centres and engaging vehicles for transportation. EDMC will act as a facilitator,” said the official.
The demand for non-renewable natural resources like metal and minerals is growing across sectors, making it imperative to reuse and recycle them, according to the civic body. “We are, therefore, adopting initiatives that focus on reduced wastage and scrap management in compliance with rules and bylaws,” said the official.