The recent fire at the Deonar dumping ground, and the resulting blanket of smoke enveloping the city, claimed a 13-year-old victim over the weekend. Shifa Mohammed Isak, a resident of Umar Khadi, lost her life after the smoke aggravated the TB she had been battling for six months.

It is time to get serious about how we dispose our waste and discuss the consequences of haphazard disposal. Of late, we have seen civic authorities place bins marked wet and dry waste. While the intent may be laudable, most of the public simply does not know the difference between dry and wet waste. Even if they wish to segregate the items, they do not know which bin to use. It would be better if civic authorities specify which bin should be used for what, with a graphic or pictorial on each.