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.