The Hindu 31.07.2012
A garbage treatment initiative by residents
Kerala Sanitation Mission to provide technical support
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.
