THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A decentralised waste disposal mechanism, pipe compost units, that invited more brickbats than bouquets ever since it was set up, is in for a makeover.
The City Corporation’s health wing has started giving the system a shift from anaerobic to aerobic, by making holes below the lid in the long pipes to ensure proper air circulation. This can prevent the pungent odour from emanating and hasten the composting process. One of the major problem the units have caused was worms wriggling out of it once garbage was deposited along with odour generation.
‘The anaerobic composting units took 90 to 150 days for the composting process to get over. But when air circulation is ensured this will take only 60 to 90 days. Presence of worms can therefore be reduced and the smell will hardly come out,’’ said a Corporation health official. Presently, the conversion is done in Nedumcaud ward. To do it in other wards, 500 Kudumbashree workers are given training by the Corporation.
To make the users aware of its proper upkeep, the Corporation is planning to issue a handbook detailing the dos and don’ts in the pipe compost. The units are intended for dry waste processing, and is not suitable to process wet waste, according to experts. Presence of watery content from rice soup or curries could prevent air circulation thereby resulting in slow processing.
It is also recommended that to speed up the action of microorganisms that can curtail the odour generation some simple methods can be followed instead of going in for spraying inoculum. Sprinkling of jaggery solution, cow dung mixed in water or diluted curd are suggested methods.
Similarly, to reduce the presence of water, putting saw dust, powdered dry leaves or tattered paper pieces and then stirring the matter inside the unit can be done.