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Last Updated Wednesday November 25 2020 04:42 AM IST

These mini bio-plants could be an answer to our waste management crisis

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Compost

Kochi: Even as the number of complaints and issues regarding waste disposal and treatment are on the rise in Kerala, a green project run by the apex body for private real-estate developers in India claim to scientifically treat about 80 tons of bio-waste from Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Kannur on a daily basis.

The Clean City project, which had a humble beginning at 25-apartment complex in Kochi in 2007, now covers over 1019 projects in 7 districts, according to Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI).

Scientific form of cow dung pits

Compost The process of making your own bio-bin

As part of the project, bio-bins have been installed in every apartment complex. The bio-waste collected in these bins are processed using bacteria solution to make bio-manure. Apart from this, plastic waste is collected in Kochi and transported to the center in Ravipuram for processing.

According to experts, these bio-bins are a scientific and refined form of the waste treatment in cow dung pits. The lidded waste bin is normally six feet long, three feet wide and 2.5 feet deep and are filled with bacteria bio-solution. An apartment housing 40 families will need two bins.

Waste is deposited in a bin for 15 days. For the next 15 days, the second bin is used, giving time for the waste deposited in the first bin to turn into bio-manure. This manure could be used for grow-bag agriculture in the apartment or can be used in farmlands directly.

About 150 square feet is needed to install one unit. These bins can also be installed on the terraces of the apartment complexes.

The waste collected by the workers are deposited on layers of husk or sawdust at the base. The diluted bacteria solution is then sprayed on top of it to kick-start a chemical reaction.

The weight of the deposited waste would be reduced by half in five days - 600 kg of waste can generate 15 kg of manure in 15 days.

The expenses include:

» Cost of a unit (including two bio-bins) - Rs 82,500

» A shed on the terrace - Rs 30,000 (approximately)

» Total cost for installing a unit - Rs 1.3 lakh

» 1 liter of bio-solution required for a month for 1 unit - Rs 500

» Buckets for sorting and storing the wastes

» Payment to workers

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