Date:25/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/25/stories/2008052557751000.htm

National

“Convert bio-degradable kitchen waste into useful compost”

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Government move to engage Delhiites in managing organic waste

NEW DELHI: Keen to engage Delhiites in taking responsibility for managing their organic waste, the State Environment Department has recommended that large hotels, housing complexes, restaurants, hospitals, institutional campuses, vegetable and fruit markets, temples and residents’ welfare associations convert their bio-degradable kitchen waste into useful compost.

“The idea is to convert waste into something useful in an environmentally friendly manner. The Organic Waste Converter (OWC) system that we are recommending is meant for areas that produce large bio-degradable/kitchen waste. This latest technology will help reduce the requirement of land for waste disposal and make the city clean and green,” said a senior scientist at the Department, Anil Kumar.

“The machine converts bio-degradable kitchen waste into pre-compost in about 15 minutes and into mature compost after 10 days’ curing. This machine has been installed for demonstration at the Delhi Secretariat canteen for about six months and is working satisfactorily,” he added.

According to Mr. Kumar, installation of the OWC system in these areas would help in reducing the requirement of land for waste disposal and make Delhi cleaner, greener and healthier. One such system has recently been installed at ITC Maurya Hotel, which is working satisfactorily, he said.

Segregation

The Capital on an average produces over 6,000 tonnes of waste a day and 50 per cent of it is bio-degradable.

Senior programme co-ordinator at Toxics Link, Prashant Pastore said: “The Delhi Government had introduced the concept of waste segregation bringing in coloured waste collection dustbins, which haven’t worked for the city. People are still dumping waste as and where they want and not following the direction of the Government. We are also working with some residential societies to bring home the message of zero waste which we feel should be replicated in the city. Delhi has already filled up and used its landfill sites and what we are doing now is simply over filling them. There is also a need to educate people about waste segregation and train waste collectors.”