Waste management programme in more areas

The Alappuzha municipality will launch a programme to bring more residential areas under its initiative for solid waste management.

The municipality intends to set up 2,000 biogas plants and 11,750 pipe compost units in 52 wards, municipal chairperson Mercy Diana Macedo said here on Saturday.

The municipality has already set up 2,140 biogas plants and 1,240 pipe compost units, processing 8.52 tonne solid waste daily. The biogas generated in the units is about 1,14,900 kg, equivalent to the cooking gas supplied through 8,090 cylinders annually.

The cost of the cooking gas thus saved will amount to Rs.80.48 lakh. This apart, 116 aerobic compost units have been established at 16 locations. About 700 kg of organic waste is converted into organic manure there annually.

The biogas plants are entitled for 75 per cent subsidy while pipe compost units can get up to 90 per cent subsidy. Alappuzha has earned a place in waste management through continuous efforts under the guidance of people’s representatives such as T.M. Thomas Isaac and G. Sudhakaran, she said.

Organisations such as Anert and Kerala Agricultural University have extended help. The municipality has won various awards for its waste management practices.