Thrissur: The state’s first bio-waste plant that uses organic waste converter technology started functioning here from Monday. Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhy Ali inaugurated the facility set up by the Thrissur corporation.

The waste converter, set up at a cost of Rs 98 lakh on 30 cents of land at the Shakthan Thampuran market, is set to process 40 tonnes of bio-degradable waste in 10 days and convert it into manure. The plant will mainly process the vegetable waste generated in markets and the manure produced from the waste will be sold to the public in packets weighing 2 kg at a marginal rate.

The decision to set up the plant was taken after corporation representatives led by mayor I.P.Paul went on a state-sponsored trip to the Pune Corporation. During the visit, the civic body learned the various aspects of the technology and entered into an agreement with the company that provided technical assistance to the Pune plant, to start one such facility here.

In addition to the new plant, there are nine biogas plants under the corporation limits at West Fort, Ayyanthole, Aranattukara, Anappara, Olari, Mannuty, Ollur, Ayyanthole and Cheerachi.