Residents are happy to have the lane composting unit at their locality. “It is very useful for us. Earlier, we used to eitherhandover mixed waste to pourakarmikas or dump it here. Now we are able to put our waste into one of the compostingboxes, ’’ said Hari Kumar, a resident of 10th Cross.
The composting unit has two boxes. Residents are encouraged to dump waste between 8.30 am to 9.30 am every day. Afield supervisor alerts the residents about this by blowing a whistle. Before shutting the unit after the appointed hour, thefield supervisor mixes the waste, checks to see if dry waste is mixed and covers it with coco peat to prevent smell, flies,etc. When one of the boxes is filled in about 20 to 25 days, it is closed for composting and the other unit is opened tocollect wet waste.
By the time the second unit gets filled, the wet waste in the first unit will have turned to compost.
The lane composting unit can accommodate 25 kg of waste per day from 70 dwellings on the 10th Cross and 11th Crossof Rajendra Nagar. “As of now, around 30 residents drop wet waste here,’’ said Yasmeen Taj, field supervisor, Saahas.
Residents have to segregate waste at source before dumping it into one of the boxes. “We have created awareness amongthe residents on how to segregate waste at the source and the benefits of lane composting unit,’’ said Devappa N, project coordinator, Saahas.
“We are contemplating installing lane composting units in other streets of Rajendra Nagar in the near future,’’ said Tiwari . The NGO is also contemplating installing kasa (waste) kiosks for collection of dry waste.
The lane composting unit can accommodate 25 kg of waste per day from
70 houses on the 10th Cross and 11th Cross of Rajendra Nagar
Community composting begins at 10th Cross, Rajendra Nagar to turn
wet waste from homes into compost.
Until recently, 10th Cross Road of Rajendra Nagar at Adugodi ward in
BTM Layout Assembly
segment was one large black hole with garbage strewn around.
But now it’s likely to become a model lane, thanks to the efforts of Saahas, a non-profit organization, which has introduced the concept of lane composting.
From September 7, residents of this road, have been dumping their wet waste into a composting unit set up by Saahas, which has been helping communities manage their waste at source by reducing, reusing and recycling, since 2001.
(BBMP) provided space for the unit. The purpose of this exercise is to collect wet waste and convert it into compost, while deterring people from throwing it on the road and reducing the burden on landfills. The wet waste will get converted into compost in 30 to 45 days.
