In early 2017, when residents of Raja Street, Mandaveli decided to take steps towards responsible waste management, they seemed to have everything figured out, except for one question.
They did not know where they could compost their biodegredeable waste. Before long, they started searching for a composting site, and the quest led them to a biogas plant and composting unit near a popular hotel in Raja Annamalai Puram. This unit was however inoperative.
Now, almost one year later, Corporation official Sathish Kumar, who took charge of Ward 173 (Zone 13) in November 2017, has revived the facility. The 750-kg plant is currently running on a trail basis, generating fuel for an Amma canteen on Kamarajar Salai.
“The biogas plant became unserviceable due to a technical snag. We called a consultant and cleared all blockades and replaced the crusher machine of the plant,” says Sathish.
“With 750kg of waste, we can save a 14-kg LPG gas cylinder, burn fuel for one hour and a half and can cook up to 450 idlis,” he says.
The team is currently collecting garbage from vegetable markets, restaurants and small eateries in the neighbourhood. In the coming months, the team will collect garbage from hotels in and around Mylapore and gated communities.
Incidentally, for one kg of waste, one to two litres of water is used for crushing the waste.
“After the process, we treat the water using an RO process and recycle it to crush the next set of waste. Additionally, the sludge produced in the process is used as manure for gardens,” explains Sathish.
Residents hail move
Once the technical glitches were resolved, the officials informed residents in and around R.A. Puram through WhatsApp.
“As per Solid Waste Management rules, waste generators are responsible for the garbage they generate. We hope this exercise will educate and motivate residents to segregate their waste. All are welcome to give wet waste to the facility,” says Sathish.
Ganga Sridhar, president, Raja Street Residents’ Welfare Association, says, “Our street has been religiously practising three-way waste segregation and hand it over to Ramky. Now that the biogas plant is reopened, a team of members drawn from various residents’ welfare association will visit the place to learn how we, as residents, can contribute towards this.”
