Marriage hall instals machineto compost degradable waste

First of its kind for Tiruchi, it can process 150 kg of wet waste

The waste compost machine installed at a marriage hall in Tiruchi.

Close on the heels of Tiruchi Corporation making it mandatory for marriage halls and restaurants in the city to set up solid waste management systems to process and dispose biodegradable waste at source, a marriage hall on East Boulevard Road has installed a composting machine to produce organic manure from wet waste.

The composting machine has been established at NSP Marriage Hall at a cost of ₹ 6 lakh. It is said to be the first of its kind installed at a marriage hall in the city. The machine has a capacity to process 150 kg of wet waste, including discarded food, vegetables, banana leaves, plantain tree and others. The machine compresses the waste and converts the waste into organic manure after 21 days.

“The investment is huge for a marriage hall and adds to the recurring financial burden to us. But I have taken the initiative in the overall interest of the city. It will ensure 100% disposal of garbage at its source itself,” said N.S.P. Kumar, proprietor of the marriage hall, who is also the secretary of Tiruchi District Marriage Hall Owners’ Association.

He said he had decided not to sell the manure produced from the machine but distribute it to those who want it. Mr. Kumar said that since the installation of the composting machine, several other owners of marriage halls had been visiting to see and understand its functions and benefits. More marriage halls in the city were likely to follow suit shortly.

Corporation Commissioner N. Ravichandran said that there were about 250 marriage halls and 100 restaurants in the city. While small marriage halls generated about half-a-tonne of waste, big marriage halls with a seating capacity of 500 and above generated about a tonne. They could dispose 75% of waste at its source by setting up biodigesters or composting machine.

Citing the Solid Waste Management 2016 rules, he said all bulk producers of solid waste, including hotels, restaurants, marriage halls and hostels, had no other option but to set up facilities on their premises to treat and recycle the waste. The rules were applicable to those generating more than 100 kg of waste.