1) Slum dwellers understand the need for clean environments and are the most willing to cooperate with and pay for improved waste management efforts, despite having lower incomes. 2) There are several easy and proven methods for waste collection and treatment in slums, including using lorries at slum entrances, door-to-door collection with handcarts, take-away bins in narrow lanes, shared bio-bins, and community bio-bins. 3) Community bio-bin programs have been successful in India, with residents and community groups paying a small fee for waste collection and composting services that also provide jobs and income.

1. WASTE MANAGEMENT
IN SLUMS

2. WASTE COLLECTION IS
EASIEST IN SLUMS
Slum dwellers are always the most
neglected sector for waste collection.
They desire and understand the need for
a clean environment and the costs of ill
health.
They are the most willing to cooperate in
improved waste management efforts.
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3. SLUM DWELLERS ARE THE MOST WILLING
TO PAY FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT
Despite having lower incomes
than other areas, collection is
most forthcoming and easiest
to collect in slums.
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4. FIVE EASY PROVEN METHODS FOR
WASTE COLLECTION AND TREATMENT
1, Lorry at the slum entrance
2, Door-to-door collection in handcarts
3, Take-away bins in narrow lanes
4, Shared bio-bins
5, Community bio-bins
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5. LORRY AT SLUM ENTRANCE
Slum lanes are usually kept clean, but waste
usually lies uncollected in large heaps just
outside the slum entrance.
It takes a lorry 15-20 minutes to load this.
Instead, a lorry waits at slum entrance at a fixed
time, while helper moves through slum with
whistle to announce its arrival.
Slum-dwellers come to lorry with their waste.
Lorry pickup time and frequency unchanged.
So no extra payment is required.
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6. DOOR-TO-DOOR COLLECTION
IN HANDCARTS
This is done in Calcutta’s upgraded slums
where lanes are paved and wide
enough for movement.
Waste is collected in the usual way in
hand-carts at a fixed time of day.
No payment is required as this replaces
earlier lane-sweeping practices.
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7. TAKE-AWAY BINS IN NARROW LANES-1
In Mumbai, slum assns appoint youths for
cleaning work, before going to college or jobs.
First a mass clean-up drive is undertaken.
Then the new system is immediately started.
7-8am : narrow open drains are swept clean.
8am : 50-litre bins given by city are placed at
path crossings, one per 25 homes or so.
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8. TAKE-AWAY BINS IN NARROW LANES-2
8-10 am : waste is carried from each home to
nearest bin at residents’ convenience.
10-11 am : All bins are removed and unloaded
directly into waiting truck outside slum, and
stacked till next day.
City’s cooperation in regular and punctual
presence of lorry at 10-11am is vital !!
Residents willingly pay Re 1 per head or Rs 5
per family. More for shops outside the slum.
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9. SHARED BIO-BINS : DHAKA MODEL
Waste Concern NGO provides 5-6 families a
perforated barrel on a raised base, with
compost layer at bottom as a starter bed.
Residents must fill only kitchen waste daily in
layers not more than ~50mm, for mulch-
composting in the barrel.
NGO buys the ready compost when barrel is full
after 3 months or so.
Demand is good and cooperation too, as
residents see their waste as valuable.
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10. COMMUNITY BIO-BINS - 1
This bio-bin replaced a dirty
overflowing waste container.
It serves 125 families at
Diamond Gdn Chembur, who
pay for the program.
Segregated waste is
loaded daily by door-to-
door collectors, bioculture
is added & waste is turned.
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11. COMMUNITY BIO-BINS - 2
After 15 days, a similar
bio-bin is used while
the compost in 1st bin
matures in 15 more days.
Compost is not sold but
used in flowerbeds for
street beautification.
3 get employed, for an hour
a day for dtdoor collection,
street and drain cleaning,
gardening + composting
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12. COMMUNITY BIO-BINS - 3
140 such bio-bins are in use at Kochi on
Rupee-A-Day scheme, in good demand
for cleanliness in middle-income areas.
Residents groups pay for installation of
bio-bins. Kudumbashree womens’ self-
help groups collect waste door-to-door,
put kitchen waste in bio-bin, add culture
and turn it. Sale of compost adds to
their income. Being tried in slums now.
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