By The Hindu Bureau
The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is set to implement two projects for the rapid composting of organic waste. The work order for the same has been awarded. The new methods are meant to speed up the composting of organic waste collected in aerobic bins installed in various wards of the civic body. One of the methods involves the use of black soldier flies while another will be through the crushing of the collected waste.
The larvae of the black soldier fly is known to rapidly consume organic waste including food waste, reducing the amount considerably in a short time. The method has proved to be faster than other methods of processing organic waste. It reduces the chance of accumulation of organic waste at the collection sites. According to corporation officials, the method will be initially implemented in the existing aerobic composting bins, following which dedicated plants will also be opened.
鈥淲e have decided to experiment with the method in a few aerobic bins which are now used for community-level composting. It is expected that the amount of waste converted into compost will increase 4-5 times by using black soldier fly. So, a facility which currently processes 1 tonne of waste during a particular period can now process up to 5 tonnes during the same period,鈥 said an official.
The other rapid composting system to be experimented will be carried through the crushing of organic waste to reduce their volume considerably. The compressed waste will be fed to the aerobic bins. Due to the compression, the composting process will be speeded up. The project was initiated at the aerobic bin facility at Kalladimukham with a total capacity to process 12 tonnes of waste. Now, the material collection facility at Chala, with a total capacity of 50 tonnes, has also been added to it.