Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Lighting up the market, with garbage

Special Correspondent

ENERGY FROM WASTE: A biowaste treatment plant located in the Sreekaryam market.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Every evening, when the streetlamps in the Sreekaryam market area flicker to life, the traders and local people know that their garbage is being put to good use. A biowaste treatment plant located in the market is churning out electricity to power the lights. At a time when the City Corporation is grappling with the garbage problem, the Sreekaryam panchayat has set an example in decentralised solid waste management.

The panchayat has joined hands with the Biotech Centre for Development of Biogas Technology and other Non-conventional Energy Sources to set up a waste-to-energy project utilising organic wastes.

The treatment plant is capable of processing 250 kg of waste every day. The energy generated by the unit powers a bank of CFL lamps installed by the panchayat.

The entire quantum of fish, fruit and vegetable waste generated by the market is fed into the treatment plant and converted into biomethane gas. Water used for processing is recycled and fed back into the unit.

The methane gas is passed through special biofilters and used to power a generator that supplies power to the public lamps through a control panel. The preconditioner and gas filters also run on the power generated by the unit.

The plant is capable of a daily power output of 3 kW. The panchayat has installed 20 streetlights powered by the plant. Biotech director Sajidas said another 200 lamps could be powered by the electricity.

Panchayat president A. P. Murali said the unit had cost Rs.7 lakhs. Biotech installed the plant and provided a technician to man the unit.

The project is also eligible for subsidy from the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources. Biotech has set up similar units in several panchayats.

Mr.Sajidas said the plant could be scaled down for use in hospitals, restaurants, hostels, slaughter houses, poultry farms and even households.

"The decentralised method of waste management will make it easier for civic bodies to tackle the garbage problem without heavy investment," he points out.

Mr.Murali said the project was the outcome of a long- pending demand from the people to tackle the garbage crisis.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Corporation council accuses Centre of scuttling Vizhinjam project
State to go ahead with Vizhinjam project
Lighting up the market, with garbage
Sampark Kranti, Bikaner trains rescheduled
Tiger reserve to be set up
Congress flays Government stand on Plan approach paper
Experts to visit medical college
KPCC seeks judicial probe into custodial deaths
Man dies after falling into well
Vizhinjam: FRAT organises dharna
Police drive: 506 cases registered
Around the City
In Thiruvananthapuram Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu