With Corporation Commissioner S. Aneesh Sekhar giving hotels, theatre complexes and marriage halls only two weeks to begin recycling their waste, some organisations have come up with novel ways to deal with garbage.

A total of 30 hotels have signed up with the Madurai District Hoteliers Association to begin composting through a project called ‘Smart Clean Green Madurai.’

The association has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Madurai Corporation to boost waste management process. Many businesses are still grappling with the process of waste segregation, according to K. Thirupathi, project head of the initiative.

The plant located at Pazhathottam near Sigaganga Road, which will will start functioning soon, uses high-tech accelerated composting technology. An organic shredder will break down biodegradable waste into smaller particles. A composting machine, with a conveyor belt, where finer plastic particles can be removed manually and an ‘organic slurry machine’ form part of the plant.

The waste will be loaded onto the conveyor belt and workers will segregate small plastic items. The approved junk will be converted into fine black particles and released into a long composting pit and nature will take its course.

Every 21 days, 15 to 18 % of biodegradable waste will become fine organically enriched manure that can be used to grow vegetables and fruits on 5.5 acres of land. Twelve varieties of vegetables and 15 varieties of fruits, along with greens, have been planned on this plot. The aim is to collect 10 tonnes of garbage from hotels and marriage halls everyday. “We make use of the largely wasted coconut water as a micro-nutrient, a medium for micro-organisms and as a source of potash,” says Mr. Thirupathi.

The cost of the machinery, Rs. 55 lakh, has been borne by the Corporation and Mr. Thirupathi’s KT Greens India. Workers will be deputed to pick up segregated garbage from hotels and bring the waste to the yard so that hoteliers can be at ease. The project aims to provide employment to at least 14 people. It is set to roll out in two weeks.

Other organisations are stepping in to be part of the initiative. GRT Regency has a composting machine that processes over 100 kg of waste a day. According to the Chief Engineer Gopal, 70 kg of manure is produced at the end of the week and sold to local farmers.

According to an official, bulk waste generators producing over 100 kg of waste a day can use different composting methods.

Those wanting to sell the manure can register with ‘Mobile Fertiliser Management System.’This is open to housing associations and residential apartments with over 5,000 square feet of land too.

For details regarding the composting process, call Madurai Corporation or Mr. Thirupathi at 98942 33331.

Women passengers waiting at the Kamarajar Bus Stand here need not use public toilets with inadequate facilities any more, for the Dindigul Corporation has installed two toilets with all facilities to meet their entire needs, especially related to menstrual hygiene.

Inaugurating the ‘Sunidhi toilets’ here on Wednesday, Collector T.G. Vinay said that the existing toilets at the bus stand and along highways lacked women-friendly facilities. The new toilets would also protect their privacy with dignity.

The toilets were installed under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Ten toilets had been sanctioned as a pilot project - seven for Dindigul and three for Madurai Corporations. The low-cost prefabricated structure would have a western toilet, Indian toilet, wash basin, sanitary napkin vending machine, napkin incinerator, mirror and soap. The Corporation would maintain them.

Two toilets had been installed at the east and west end of the bus stand. More such facilities would come up near Amma Canteen at flower market, Siluvathur tank area, near Mochaikottai Vinayagar Temple, Mettupatti church area and 108 Vinayagar Temple campus near Gopalasamudram tank. Based on successthe model would be replicated in other areas, the Collector added.

Technical staff said the superstructure, made of cost-effective ferro-cement technology, could be installed in three to four hours. The slabs were fabricated using moulds and drilled together and brought to the location for installation. Fixing toilets, other equipment, basin and plumbing work were done on the spot. Top priority was given for hand washing as it could reduce 45% of sanitation- related diseases. The cost of each toilet was Rs. 75,000.

If one inserted a Rs. 5 coin, the sanitary napkin vending machine would dispense one. Around 30 napkins had been kept in the machine. The incinerator would reduce the used napkin into five grams of ash.

The machine used minimal electricity and the smoke would pass through a chimney.