Designer makes low-cost incinerator

Hyderabad: A city-based designer has come up with a design of a low-cost incinerator for sanitary napkins, which can be used both in households and schools and colleges.

The household one will cost around Rs 1,000 and the designer is trying to come up with a bigger one for schools, colleges, hostels etc. and it might cost around Rs 3,000. Electric incinerators generally cost Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000.

“It is a 15-inch box with a simple mechanism. The fuel used is kerosene or turpentine. Around 12 pads can be burnt at one time. It is better,” said Prashant Lingam, the designer.

“Due to the huge population and lack of availability of free land, dumping used pads in landfills is not an option as it damages the water table and soil. Our team interacted with GHMC, Women and Child department and they concurred that the incinerator seemed like a feasible option for hostels, schools and households,” said Mr Lingam.

He agreed that though an incinerator was not a permanent solution, the government should find alternatives and a permanent solution to the problem.