Hyderabad: The waste from Rajendranagar no longer burdens Jawaharnagar but has become a source to earn money. Dry waste from the entire area is bought by the Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) every day totalling 1,500 kgs under the well being out of waste programme. The domestic wet garbage is buried in an open plot to form wormy compost that is again sold to people as plants manure. The solid waste management resource park (SWMRP) at Rajendranagar is the first of its kind in the city. The mo-ney made out of the waste is paid to the workers. Mr G. Anjaneyulu, sanitary supervisor, Rajendranagar, said, “The waste transfer station for the circle is located on the Horticulture University land, Budwel village. Earlier, the accumulated mixed garbage from Budwel transfer station was transported to Jawaharnagar yard by engaging larger volume of 25 tonne trucks. The vehicles transfer would involve fuel and labour cost besides hire charges that would add to the burden on the GHMC revenue. Thus, we came up with SWMRP, by scientific disposal of garbage.”
He added, “Every day, 1,500 kgs of dry waste (bottles, papers, plastic) is purchased by ITC at Rs 5 or Rs 8 or Rs 10 per kg while the remaining waste is sold by workers as scrap. The money generated through ITC’s purchase estimated to be Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per day is distributed among workers. The wet waste is buried in an open plot for vermic compost. There are different plots. One compost takes about 20 days while another 30 days. Residents are welcome to purchase the vermic compose at kilogram rate as it is a good plant manure. It has been over two months since the whole process of garbage disposed in Rajendranagar has been changed.”
Vermi composting is a process using earthworms to convert organic waste into organic manure. Rajendrangar Circle has constructed a shed within temporary transfer station. At present, the transfer station receives about 50 tonnes of wet waste per day that includes vegetables, fruits, garden and roadside plant waste and residue. Rajendranagar has also become the first division in Greater Hyderabad to have 100 per cent waste segregation. Zonal commissioner, GHMC, Srinivas Reddy explained how this was achieved. “We increased the door to door garbage collection by distributing twin bins to households and supplied Swachh auto tippers. We employed Swachh volunteers to control things.” Colonies like Abience Fort, Attapur and Ragha-vendra Colony are following 100 per cent waste segregating.
