The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Solid waste management programme in Anthiyur

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Friday, Apr 25, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Solid waste management programme in Anthiyur

Staff Reporter

ANTHIYUR: Anthiyur town panchayat has implemented the solid waste management programme to good measure. The president of the panchayat, A. G. Venkatachalam, says waste generated from 8,050 houses, 18 restaurants, seven wedding halls, and other shops are segregated at a source.

“About 36 conservancy staff from the panchayat goes on garbage collection drives every morning to collect the waste.

Right at the collection point, the waste is segregated into degradable and non-degradable waste." The panchayat collects about 2.4 tonnes of waste, of which around 700 kg is degradable.

Degradable waste

The degradable waste is taken to the local body’s facility, which is on a .5 hectare plot.

There waste is collected in cement tanks. The panchayat then sprinkles cow dung on the waste for easy decomposition. The process continues until a tank is filled.

The panchayat has about half-a-dozen such tanks.

Decompose

Once a tank is full, it is left to decompose.

The decomposed waste is taken to a neighbouring shed where more of cow dung is sprinkled and earthworms are let in to do the rest of the job. Mr. Venkatachalam says the local body has been implementing the waste management programme for the past three years.

Vermicompost

So far it has sold 124 kg of vermicompost for Rs. 12,400. As far the non-degradable waste, the president says the waste is segregated and those that can be recycled are recycled.

Others like hospital waste are properly buried.

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