The Consortium for Sanitation Redress (CSR), a group of NGOs, has suggested the use of Effective Microorganisms (EM) to manage garbage in the city.
The microorganisms that will be used at Chennai Corporation transfer stations will help reduce the stench emanating from garbage as well as speed up the process of decomposition.
The NGOs are suggesting that the EM be sprayed at all the eight transfer stations where over 4,000 tonnes of fresh garbage is brought in by small-sized compactors and collected to be transferred to the dumping yards at Perungudi and Kodungaiyur using large compactors.
“This is a low-cost solution and easy to apply. The NGOs are willing to adopt the garbage transfer stations and ensure that culturing of the microorganisms and spraying is done in a systematic manner. Apart from reducing the stench, it will also help bring down flies. The concept of friendly microorganisms was developed in Japan,” said Yaseva of Propel Global, an NGO that has brought together other NGOs.
The NGOs DMI, FMA – Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, ShaSha Foundation, Janodayam, Gold Heart Foundation, Plus Trust, Vizhiththezhu, and Lights of trust will soon submit letters of interest to the Chennai Corporation stating that they are willing to help the civic body in its efforts to manage garbage. The CSR wants the proposal to be taken up as a public-private partnership.
On Tuesday, the representatives of CSR demonstrated the use of EM at the Valluvar Kottam transfer station.
