The Government is committed to make the city garbage free by segregating the garbage at source and converting the bio-degradable waste into manure or producing biogas. Scientific management of solid and liquid waste in an environment friendly manner is an important function of urban local bodies.
Over 7,500 MT of solid waste is being generated in 20 corporations and 138 municipalities. Out of this, nearly 54% wet waste and 46% dry waste. The wet waste is scientifically processed through Micro composting centres, Biomenthenation plant, windrow composting, on-site composting and converted into manure. Similarly, the dry waste is being collected and transported to Resource Recovery Centres (RRC) and disposed through the identified vendors for recycling. The non-recyclable and combustible waste is separated and transported to nearby cement plants, for disposal by co-processing.
Action is being taken to process and dispose the legacy waste dumped at various locations in an environment friendly manner through bio-mining. The Government intends to convert the surplus reclaimed land as urban green spaces, parks depending on the nature of the land. The Government is committed to make the cities garbage free by segregating the solid waste at source and converting the bio-degradable waste into manure or producing biogas.
Based on the SBM 2.0 guidelines, City Solid Waste Action Plan (CSWAP) has been prepared for all the 158 ULBs and gap has been arrived for the year 2026. The State High Powered committee of SBM 2.0 has approved the City Solid Waste Action Plan to establish various infrastructure facilities like Micro Compost Centres (MCC), Biomethanation/Bio CNG plants, Material Recovery facilities, Transfer station and scientific landfill for processing of both wet and dry waste.
To process the construction and Demolition waste, processing facilities has been sanctioned in 6 Corporations viz.Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Tuticorin and Tiruppur.
In order to prevent the dust and air pollution, Road sweeping machines has been sanctioned in 5 corporations viz, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem and Tuticorin.
(ii) Removal of Legacy Waste
Reclamation of dump yard filled with legacy waste through bio mining process is under progress in various ULBs. The total quantity of legacy waste accumulated in the 122 ULBs is 106 lakh cu.m and in 36 ULBs there is no legacy waste dumped.
Bio Mining work has been taken up in 18 Corporations and 93 Municipalities to remove the 93 lakhs Cu.m of Legacy waste at an estimated cost of 600.48 cr. After completion of the biomining works, about 950 acres of land will be reclaimed.
Bio Mining works has been completed in 55 ULBs and cleared 41 lakh Cu.m of legacy waste and 395 acres of land has been reclaimed. In 67 ULBs, bio-mining works are in various stages.
Steps are being taken up to complete the bio-mining process in these corporations and municipalities expeditiously. A part of the reclaimed land in various cities will be used for setting up solid waste processing facilities and surplus land will be used for public purposes including developing parks and green spaces.
During the year 2022-23, biomining work has been sanctioned in 6 corporations and 32 municipalities with an estimated cost of Rs.92.77 crore and under SBM 2.0. Bio-mining works are in progress in 38 ULBs and steps are being taken up to expeditiously complete the bio-mining process.
(iv) Swachh Bharath Mission (U)2.0
Under SBM (U), 158 ULBs have been declared as Open Defecation Free (ODF) cities. However, it is a big challenge for the cities to maintain ODF status. The Government is committed to make all urban areas truly ODF by providing universal access to toilets.
Under the Mission, 5,07,143 Individual House Hold Latrines (IHHL), 22,337 seats of Community toilets have been constructed so far. Further, purchase of primary collection vehicles such as battery operated vehicles, light commercial vehicles & tipper lorries, construction of Micro Composting Centers, Resource Recovery Centers and other infrastructure works have been taken up and completed.
In Continuation of the Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 has been launched on 1st October 2021 for completion of the balance works under SBM (U), institutionalizing cleanliness behavior and making it sustainable. The Mission is for a period of 5 years, i.e. upto October 2026.
Objectives of the SBM 2.0 are:
(i) Sustain Open Defecation Free status in all statutory towns, to ensure that no untreated faecal sludge or used water is discharged into the environment and all used water (including sewage and septage, grey water and black water) is safely contained, transported and treated, along with maximum reuse of treated used water, in all cities with less than 1 lakh population.
(ii) To make all cities clean and garbage free, with 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste, source segregation, effective management of construction & demolition waste, plastic waste management and remediating all legacy waste dumpsites
(iii) To ensure awareness creation along with large scale citizen outreach to intensify ‘peoples movement’ and institutionalize cleanliness behavior and to create institutional capacity.
The Fund Sharing Pattern under the Mission is as follows:
| City / Town Population | GOI grant on the project fund | State/ULB Contribution |
| More than 10 lakh | 25% | 75% |
| 10 lakh to 1 lakh | 33% | 67% |
| Less than 1 lakh | 50% | 50% |
Sanitation
The ULB wise action plan was prepared based on the existing and projected 2025 population requirements for sanitation and solid waste management as per the SBM 2.0 guidelines. To sustain the Open Defecation Free status in all statutory towns, 11,508 nos of Individual House Hold Latrines (IHHL) has been sanctioned during 2022-23. Of which 2,875 nos has been completed. Remaining 8,633 nos of IHHL are in various stage of progress.
Community Toilets are constructed for providing sanitation to the households without land for the construction of IHHL. To make the citizens for easy access for toilets in public places, a public toilet has to be provided within the 500 meters distance in each ULBs. Based on the gap 170 nos of community toilets, 130 nos public toilets and 110 nos of urinals has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs.86.86 cr in the year 2021-22 and 2022-23 and all works are under various stage of implementation.
Solid Waste Management
Based on the SBM 2.0 guidelines, City Solid Waste Action Plan (CSWAP) has been prepared for all the 158 ULBs and gap has been arrived for the year 2026. During 2021-22 State High Powered committee held on 09.11.2022, the committee sanctioned 80 Micro composting centres, 105 Material recovery facilities, 6 Construction & Demolition processing facilities and 15 Road sweeping machines at an estimated cost of Rs.183.16 crore. All works are under various stage of implementation.