Garden waste burning rises in Trichy amid collection gaps

Trichy: Burning of garden waste is on the rise across the city, with residents alleging that sanitation workers refuse to collect trimmed branches and shrub cuttings from homes and institutions. While the Trichy Corporation maintains that garden waste is collected once a week, residents say it is routinely excluded from doorstep collection, forcing them to burn it or dump it in vacant plots.The city generates about 450 metric tonnes of waste daily. Although biodegradable and non-biodegradable domestic waste is collected through an outsourced agency, residents claim garden waste and certain non-recyclable e-waste are often rejected. With dry weather setting in after the monsoon, many households have cleared overgrown vegetation, leading to piles of uncollected garden waste. Residents say the lack of regular collection has led to late-night burning, triggering complaints from neighbours, especially those with respiratory issues. "Some end up burning plastic along with garden waste, worsening pollution. Vacant plots are also being misused for dumping," said B Balaji, a resident of Kurinji Nagar. Open burning near roads has also affected motorists and air quality. Residents argue that since the corporation collects solid waste user charges from every property, garden waste should be included in routine collection. "Proper collection will encourage people to maintain green cover instead of discarding waste irresponsibly," said C Balasubramanian, advisor, Trichy district Exnora. Refuting the allegations, corporation officials said trucks are deputed every Wednesday to collect garden waste separately to prevent fire hazards. "Open burning of waste will be curtailed through monitoring. Residents will be intimidated about the option to hand over garden waste once a week. Bulk waste generators will also be encouraged to independently process garden waste," a senior corporation official said.