Chennai: Schools and colleges are coming forward to set an example in segregation of waste at source and composting of biodegradable wastes in the city.

Setting the trend with composting is the Kola Perumal Chetty Vaishnav Senior Secondary School, which is working towards becoming an eco-friendly institution. The craft department of the school has been working on the project for the last few months.

Craft teacher K.R. Meenalochani and her team of five students have been spreading awareness on segregation and composting on the school campus and neighbouring schools. The team members include L.M. Siddhartha (10), Mano Venkatesh and Sri Krishna (11), E. Rohit and Aadithya Bharadwaj (12).

The students displayed nearly 200 eco-friendly handicrafts in an awareness exhibition. They have made biodegradable items such as combs, brushes, hand bags, letter-holders, brooms, greeting cards, boxes and bins using classroom paper, waste paper and cardboard.

The team has also started a `Junk Bank' to collect used calendars, cardboard boxes, used matchsticks, tiny bits of chalk, among other biodegradable wastes. The materials will be used in making handicraft items. Handmade books are also being made.

On campus

Loyola College has implemented composting and segregation of wastes on its campus for over 10 years now.

Prof. S. Vincent, Reader, Department of Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology, said the college used three colours for its dustbins — green for wet wastes and paper, blue for PET and plastic and red for hazardous wastes. Each day, 30 kg of biodegradable wastes are composted and the manure is used as nutrient for saplings in the college nursery.

The Department of Microbiology at the M.G.R. Janaki College for Women, headed by Vijaya Ramesh, will undertake a study on the different microbial activities that take place during composting.

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