The city Corporation has unveiled another method to tackle the garbage problem as part of its ‘My City, Beautiful City’ project.
A kitchen bin, which works as a miniature form of the existing pipe compost units, but using coir pith (chakiri) mixed with inoculum for composting, was launched at a function at the Palayam market on Monday evening.
The bin, with holes on all sides, can be placed in the kitchen and biodegradable waste can be dumped in this mixed with the coir pith-inoculum mix.
“The coir pith ensures that all the leachate is absorbed and nothing flows out of the bin. All types of waste, including chicken and fish waste, can be put in. Compost will be produced from a full bin in 20 days. As a pilot scheme, bins were given to 100 households in Alappuzha last month. Reports are satisfactory. We kept one in front of the public library there for the public to check if any pungent smell emanates from the bin,” said T.M. Thomas Isaac, MLA.
The priceA kitchen bin filled with fish waste has been placed at the entry to the Palayam market here. An employee of the Corporation has been posted at this location so that people can place orders for the bin. As of now, a bin will cost Rs.400 and the coir pith-inoculum mix will cost Rs.50. The bin, once filled with compost, can be exchanged for an empty one.
“We are looking for government subsidy to reduce the cost of the bin. People can make bins using paint containers or buckets to save cost,” said Mr. Isaac.
Portable aerobic binsAnother innovation is a portable version of the aerobic bins made using PVC pipes. Now, the bins are being set up in batches at various locations and made as permanent structures using concrete. Portable ones will reduce cost and will be useful for residential associations, which need a maximum of one or two bins to cater to all the houses in the area.
