The Hindu   31.07.2012

A garbage treatment initiative by residents

In a boost to the anti-litter campaign of the City
Corporation, over 1,200 households coming under 12 residents’
associations in and around West Hill here have drawn up a plan to set up
their own biodegradable-waste-treatment units.

The
Kerala Sanitation Mission will team up with the members of these
residents’ associations and extend technical support to them.

“Our
initiative is to prove that the garbage menace can largely be tackled
through individual initiatives. Instead of blaming the authorities, we
are trying to do our best for source-level waste reduction,” M.P.
Kesavan Nambeesan, coordinator of the project, said.

He
said the members of the residents’ associations had agreed to cooperate
with the initiative and would submit a special form mentioning the type
of plant they wanted to set up in their houses.

The
discussions held with the sanitation mission show that preference will
be given to the setting up of domestic vermicomposting units and biogas
plants. In addition to individual units, common biogas plants for
collective use will also be encouraged.

The coordination committee has sought the support of a government-approved service provider to take up the project.

The
residents will finalise a suitable treatment method within a month and
communicate it to the agency assigned. Government subsidy too will be
available to the residents with the sanitation mission agreeing to clear
the formalities.

“We are confident that the
initiative will be a success as most residents’ association members have
promised their cooperation,” Mr. Nambeesan said.

He
said the members had received training from experts in the field on
aspects such as the various options available and how to use them, and
this would help to accomplish the project.

Along with
the waste treatment initiative, the coordination committee plans to tie
up with a Bangalore-based agency to scientifically treat electronic
waste.If the agreement is realised, people in the
area will be able to store e-waste in a common location and hand over it
to the agency for treatment.