Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Minister moots idea of decentralised garbage plants

Special Correspondent

Inaugurates waste-to-energy project at Kadakkal market

Thiruvananthapuram: Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran on Tuesday mooted the idea of setting up decentralised garbage processing units in all local bodies in the State to eliminate the problem of solid waste accumulation. He was speaking after inaugurating a waste-to-energy project installed at the Kadakkal market in the district.

The plant, costing Rs.16 lakh, was set up by the Kadakkal panchayat with technical assistance from the Biotech centre for biogas technology and other non-conventional energy sources. The project integrated different technologies to process the organic wastes generated by the market and the surrounding areas.

The biomethane gas produced by the plant is used to generate electricity to light up the market, the children's park and the neighbourhood.

Capacity

The gas is passed through special biofilters before reaching the generator. The pre-conditioner and gas filters run on the power generated by the plant. The water used for processing is recycled and fed to the unit.

As many as 120 streetlights in the locality are hooked to this power source. The biogas also powers a bioincinerator that burns off the difficult-to-decompose wastes.

The project has a capacity to handle 1,000 kg of organic wastes and 500 litres of wastewater from the panchayat slaughterhouse. It also manufactures biomanure as a bye product.

Speaking on the occasion, Biotech director A.Sajidas called on the Agriculture Department to extend financial assistance to local bodies to set up waste to energy projects. Kadakkal panchayat president Sreekumar presided.

The decentralised method of waste management has emerged as a viable alternative for civic bodies to tackle the garbage problem without heavy investment.

Biotech has installed a string of similar plants in various panchayats all over the State.

The project can be scaled down for use in hospitals, restaurants, hostels, slaughter houses, poultry farms and households.

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