Disposal of leaf litter: 'Green' citizen shows the way

Hyderabad: One of the GHMC’s main concerns is the disposal of leaf litter. But citizen Poonam Bhide shows that the problem is easily solvable. Ms Bhide collects dry leaves scattered in institutions, lanes, community halls and colonies and uses it to make manure on her terrace.

A learning consultant from Secunderabad, Ms Bhide does not allow even her kitchen waste to cross her compound wall. She uses the biodegradable waste to make manure to facilitate plant growth in her 40-year-old house located behind the old Anand Theatre.

The plastic and other non-biodegradable waste is segregated and disposed of separately. Her house has been declared a zero waste home by GHMC. Ms Bhide was bothered by the burning of leaf litter by municipal sweepers.

“It bothered me so much that I started to research how to deal with it. I came across an article on residents in Mumbai who used leaf litter for composting. I initially tried it with dry waste from my garden, and it worked well. I started visiting colonies for the waste. I collected a few bags from Sindhi Colony and a school,” Ms Bhide told this newspaper.

“I have now asked my area GHMC sweeper not to burn or dispose of it, but hand it over to me. I have raised compost beds on the terrace, which turns into manure (black soil) or a growth medium for plants. I call this amrut mitti.”

Ms Bhide has been able to help a school in Secunderabad to deal with its canteen and garden waste by raising composting beds. The manure produced is used in the school garden. Apart from compost from leaf litter, she also uses worms to turn the waste into manure.