Thiruvananthapuram on top gear to zero waste target

Thiruvananthapuram: Arannoor, which has demanded 1250 new kitchen bins, is possibly the fastest of all ‘Suchitwa’ wards about to achieve ‘zero waste’ status. As the survey for the first phase of the ‘zero waste campaign’ is fast drawing to a close, this ward has demanded the most number of bins so far. The campaign is progressing well in almost all 15 ‘Suchitwa’ wards, according to Corporation officials. On Sunday, Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac will visit the last of the remaining few households in Sasthamangalam ward. 

Installation of bins has started in most of the wards. It is expected to be completed in all the wards by November 1, except Pettah, Ulloor and Kalippankulam. A large number of households are yet to be covered in these three wards. Once the survey in 15 wards is completed, 15 or 20 more wards will be chosen. Thiruvananthapuram corporation area is expected to be zero waste by March 2017.

Palayam lags:
Palayam might also not be able to achieve ‘zero waste’ status by November 1. 250 households already have kitchen bins, but most are not in use. The campaign in Palayam was stymied as workers who were formerly with Kudumbashree offered to collect waste from every household. “Since they do not need to segregate the waste, people prefer relying on Kudumbashree workers. An intensive awareness campaign needs to take place,” said an official.

Campaigners ready to clear your doubts

That no one noticed the kitchen bins at Connemara market even as the Corporation stall swarmed with people was proof of the bins’ merit. There was no malodour, no vermin spilling out of them. The bins were almost invisible to the ladies who walked in curious about cloth bags being made in the stall. Events like this are held every evening to generate dialogues on healthier waste management options.

Junior health inspector at the stall M.S. Santhosh Kumar even  placed his hand over a bin. “It is warm, which is a sign of on going composting,” he said. A lot of people had asked him whether these had the same issues as pipe compost. “It is an aerobic process, as the Black Soldier Fly larvae needs oxygen for the process. Pipe composting relies on anaerobic action,” the official said. Corporation will install steel bins which cost up to Rs 2,250 for free.

“Each bin is a mini plant owned by the corporation,” said Anoop Roy, health inspector, corporation project secretariat. People need to pay Rs 200 every month as charges for services which include ensuring maintenance of the bins and providing the composting innoculum every month. The corporation will also collect plastic once a month, glass waste once in three months and e-waste once in six months from the households. In addition, it will hold drives to collect other dry waste such as coconut husk and shell, chappals, bags and bags.