A nondescript building proclaiming to be a ‘Holistic Waste Treatment Centre’, behind one of the flats at the Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) at Pattoor, is proving to be a model for the rest of the city.
For the residents in the nearly 200 apartments here, the bio-mechanical device installed in the centre has proved to be a blessing.
The housing colony is one of the first in the city that has managed to become completely self-sufficient in managing the waste it generates. The effectiveness of the system has even prompted city Corporation authorities to name the process followed here as the ‘Pattoor Model’. They also intend to replicate it at 10 other spots in the city.
Every day, Cleanwell workers collect garbage from every home in the housing colony, separate plastic and paper waste, and then feed the biodegradable into the bio-mechanical device installed. It facilitates rapid composting of waste and is said to turn into manure 40 per cent of the total weight of garbage fed in.
“It has been over a year. We have no complaints about the system. Only one person is needed to manage the machine and half a day required to process a day’s waste. Several other residents’ associations have come here to put in place something similar,” secretary of the Pattoor Housing Accommodation Scheme, John Samuel said.
Part of the manure generated is handed over to the company who provided the composting system as per the initial agreement. The rest is sold.
The Suchitwa Mission has already agreed for similar two systems to be installed at Palayam ward, using a portion of funds allotted last year to the Corporation under the source-level waste management programme.
This was based on an application submitted by Councillor Palayam Rajan, also the Chairman of the Welfare Standing Committee. Two police quarters here are being considered as the first beneficiaries.
“Before we go ahead with the project, we will be inspecting the device at Pattoor, list deficiencies, if any, and consult with the company to see if there are any technological improvements,” said Mr. Rajan.
He said the Thrissur Corporation had installed a two-tonne version of the plant a month ago but since space was an issue here, smaller capacity plants were being looked at for individual colonies.
