Composting at household-level ensures kitchen waste can be converted into useful resource
Mysuru has a sophisticated organic waste management system that has converted the organic waste of the city into compost for farming. The city also encourages decentralised waste management systems and composting at the household-level to make sure kitchen waste can be converted into a useful resource.
The city generates around 450 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day of which 40–60 per cent is organic.
Waste segregation and processing had started becoming a problem when the city's popiulation and tourism began to grow. This made the municipal officials seek a sustainable solution to its waste problem. They initiated a system called the cradle-to-grave model. The idea was to decentralise the waste management system and ensure public participation in turning organic waste into resources.
Thus the unique idea of zero-waste management (ZMW) plants was born. Mysuru City Corporation has one centralised compost unit to treat excess waste from the ZWMs and mixed waste collected from different parts of the city. The unit has a screening system to separate non-recyclable materials and produce compost by using the windrow composting method.
The city corporation is also encouraging people to start home composting and biogas units at the household level. As the city grows further, Mysuru is now planning to set up two more plants and make their ZWMs more efficient in order to stay on top of their game. The unique decentralised waste management approach by Mysuru has enhanced the processing efficiency of organic waste.
It has also shown the country how to convert waste to wealth. But more than anything, Mysore’s success story is one where people and their government work in complete synergy to keep their city clean.
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