Chennai: This Diwali, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has an appeal to those who burst crackers: Do not mix firecracker waste with biodegradable or non-biodegradable waste or dump it in bins. Instead, they must be handed over to sanitation workers for disposal.GCC has deployed 600 workers and 350 vehicles to collect firecracker waste, which will be sent to an authorised hazardous waste disposal facility. For this purpose, GCC has distributed 30,000 jute bags with 50 kg capacity each to the workers.GCC commissioner G S Sameeran urged residents not to mix firecracker waste with household waste or dump it on roads and stormwater drains. Residents must not pile up firecrackers or firecracker waste and set them on fire. Crackers often leave behind chemical residues, including sulphur, potassium nitrate and metal compounds such as barium and copper. These substances can contaminate mixed waste and pose risks during handling and disposal, making separate collection and disposal necessary.Last year, GCC collected more than 200 tonnes of firecracker waste over three days, including burnt residues, paper, ash, cardboard and other materials. This year, GCC expects around 600 tonnes of waste. The civic body will also conduct mass cleaning operations after Diwali, including night-time road sweeping and cleaning using mechanical sweepers and sanitation workers to prevent further dust and pollution issues.Activists say bursting firecrackers not only creates an environmental hazard but also poses a disposal challenge. “Sanitation workers are already exposed to various infections and hazardous items. Collecting the firecracker waste is challenging, and people hardly cooperate to segregate municipal waste itself,” said Geo Damin of Poovulagin Nanbargal NGO. He added that sweeping must be done uniformly across the city instead of focusing on prominent roads.
