THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The City Corporation has set up aerobic composting units on an experimental basis in Karamana to tackle the garbage problem, replicating the model followed in Alappuzha. The ‘Priyam Aerobin’ unit was inaugurated by V Sivankutty MLA on Tuesday.
The unit has been set up with a funding of Rs 1.30 lakh. It has been installed to remove wayside garbage in the area and will be operated by Corporation workers.
‘’Garbage dumping along the roadside has become so rampant here, and hence the units are set up here. The Corporation workers will collect the roadside garbage in the morning and put it into the bin. We will study on how it functions in a 60-day period, and based on its success, the model could be replicated in other spots in the city,’’ said S Pushpalatha, Corporation Health Standing Committee chairperson.
The unit contains two rectangular bins with proper air circulation on all four sides kept inside a room near the Karamana bridge. Dry leaves are first placed and then the garbage is dumped in the din. To hasten the composting processing, an inoculum having enzymes of cow dung is used. This can either be kept open or closed using large sheets of paper on top. This procedure is repeated every time waste is put into the bin.
In addition to setting up the bin, night patrolling is also put in place to stop dumping on the roadside here. The exterior of the bins is beautified through landscaping.
When the compost gets ready, it will be utilised for farming activities.
Adjacent to the units a park with benches is planned.