Ludhiana: Garbage collectors once again protested the poor solid waste management system at the static compactor site in Sherpur on 100 ft Road this Saturday. The collectors alleged that one machine installed at the site has been non-functional for several days, while the second was full on Saturday, preventing them from dumping waste inside. Consequently, collectors were forced to dump trash on the floor of the compactor site. They claimed their work begins at 6 am, collecting from various houses, but they are frequently told to wait upon arrival at these sites. The machines often malfunction, and the vehicles responsible for transporting waste to the Jamalpur dump site do not return promptly, they said. Despite waiting for hours, authorities have reportedly failed to address the issue. Although these compactors were installed to resolve open dumping, collectors argue that nothing has changed, leading to protests in every nook and corner.Union members of the New Valmiki Ekta Sangharsh Committee, who recently protested at Pratap Chowk after being barred from dumping garbage from residential areas, led the demonstration. At that time, drivers were on strike and had locked the site. Union members shared that they have contacted authorities several times, but no improvements have been made. The workers are now demanding the installation of more compactors at additional sites to ensure proper collection and lifting. Surinder Kumar, a union member, highlighted that collectors work on empty stomachs from early morning, making long delays at the sites particularly difficult. He noted that female garbage collectors now also visit these sites and are subjected to the same hardships. He added that collectors had no option but to dump the garbage in the open at the compactor site due to the lack of functional machinery.
