Improved Solid Waste Management in Sankeshwar –Vermi compost activity

Sankeshwar is a small town in the state of Karnataka. The waste management is of growing

concern for the Town municipal Council as there was no proper and scientific way being

followed. Hence the municipality renewed its focus toward this service to improve the sanitary

conditions of the town. An effective and systematic ways for collection, transportation,

treatment and disposal of waste was designed and implemented with the help of local

stakeholders. Today the town is clean and the municipality is handling the solid waste in lines

with the MSW1 Rules 2000.

Town Profile

Situation before

Earlier to 2007, the town didn’t have door step waste collection. The waste generators were

dumping the waste in drains, open spaces and on roads which had lead to unhygienic

conditions. The collected waste from these spots was dumped in a scattered manner at the

outskirts of the town. After notification of state policy on Integrated Solid Waste

Management by the state government, a landfill site was purchased using the government

grants. The collected waste was then transported to this site and buried in pit using

controlled tipping methods also known as engineered landfills. As the town was from

agricultural base, majority of the organic waste was not recovered using pit method, which

was shortening the landfill site’s life. An immediate need for scientific and effective waste

management system was felt. The citizens with their declined confidence level on

municipality were affecting other revenue generation services.

1 Solid Waste (Handling and Management) Rules 2000

Population (2001) : 32511

Population (present) : 34445

Area : 7.84 Population Density : 4287

Total number of households : 5815

Literacy rate : 77.3%

Waste Generated : 10-12Tonnes per day

Sankeshwar

Square shape heap formed out of existing waste

Composting in plastic bags

Collection of Vermin Wash

Spreading the top layer of leaves helps retaining moisture

Process involved in compost preparation

Description of the initiative

The Chief Officer, Environment Engineer and helath inspector with the support of elected

members and health staff focused to recover organic

waste the maximum possible from the garbage. The

Chief Officer along with his officials convinced the local

NGO “Vishwachetan Shaiksanik Hagu Grameen

Abhivruddhi,Samste,Sankeshwar” to undertake a pilot

study in the year 2008. The Chief Officer along with the

representatives of NGOs visited PanhalaTMC in

Kolhapur district of Maharashtra state. This study tour

helped them to learn the process adopted by the TMC for

preparing vermin composting. As a pilot project, 2

plastic bag of size 12ftX4ftX2ft was selected. The NGO

erected the shed at landfill site for preparing compost from the garbage. Later in 2008, the

success story of the pilot ward motivated the

municipality to encourage Self Help Groups (SHGs) to

undertake door step waste collection with stirct

introduction of user fee concept. The municipality

prepared a proposal to receive fund assistance from

Directorate of Municipal Administration. A total

amount of Rs. 29.5 lakhs was approved for developing

concrete yard and composting units at the landfill site.

Another 13 lakhs was provided by the Urban

Development Department to procure infrastructure i.e.

9 meta l containers, 14 pushcarts and 1 tractor placer.

Another 6 containers were procured by the

municipality from the SFC grants.

The door step waste collection was established with two SHGs where in a monthly amount

of Rs. 7,000 to 9,000/month/group was collected. This

amount was good enough for the SHGs to maintain the

system. In rest of 7 wards, in few possible areas, the

waste was collected directly by the tractors and in few

areas through containers. The collected waste is

unloaded to the containers and alternate days these

containers are cleared. A total of 10 ton of waste is

transported to the landfill site on daily basis.

Pilot project Compost test report

The waste at processing and disposal site is manually segregated using 6 sanitary workers.

Then the recyclables are sold to pre

identified recyclers. The organic waste is

then composted using vermin composting

method.

The historical waste which was dumped in a

landfill pit since a year was partially

decomposed. This waste was processed to

prepare vermin composting. The non-

degradable materials which are bigger in

size are removed manually (which can be

recycled). After segregation waste was

dumped in square shape heaps of

4ftX4ftx4ft size and water was sprinkled to

maintain temperature. After 15 days the

heap was rotated and water was sprinkled

again on daily basis for 7 days to decrease

the temperature at 200c to 300c.

This was put in to a plastic bag of size

12ftX4ftX2ft consisting of three mess for

cross ventilation at the side of Bags. Small

holes were made at the bottom corner of

the bag to collect vermin-wash (this water

consisting of vermin eggs can be again

poured into bag to regenerate the worms

and also used as a best nutrient). The

compost bed was stuffed with the coconut

shells to preserve moisture.

Every 1 ft height of decomposed waste was sandwiched with a layer of 80% diluted cow

dung slurry. The top of the plastic cover was filled with a layer of neem leaves to avoid flies.

Later 3 kgs of vermin worms were introduced. Often water was sprinkled to maintain the

temperature. After 2weeks the vermin compost was ready which was dried in sun. Then

sieved using ½ inch mess and stored in the shed.

As the town is surrounded by the agricultural activities, there was a good demand for

compost and hence was sold to the farmers. The rejects were buried in pits as per the Rules.

Vermi compost shed

Vermi compost Pit each of size 5.6mtr X 1.5mtr X 0.6mtr.

Vermi compost Pit

Manual segragetion

Collection of waste

Shredding of waste

Compost preparation Earth worms

For Long term activity the Enhancements in the Vermicomposting activity: In the year November 2010

• Construction of Vermi pits and shed :

The Vermicomposting activity also was completely transformed from a Single Shed to Multi concrete sheds for vermi pits with an expenditure amount of 17.50 Lakhs. There are 40 pits of size 5.6mtr X 1.5mtr X 0.6mtr.

Screening of Manure Screened Manure

Screening of Manure Lechate Tank

Visit to Vermicomposting unit at SWM site by Shri.Umesh.V.Katti Hon’ble Agricultural Minister Government Of Karnataka Along with other Dignitaries

Visit to Vermicomposting unit at SWM site by Shri.Ramesh.V.Katti Hon’ble MP,Chikodi Loksabha Constituency

Construction of a windrow platform At landfill site windrow platform of 37mtr X 21Mtr and leachate tank with expenditure amount of 12.50 Lakh was constructed. This can be used for segregation of waste

Compost report at 2011

A clip from newspaper

Problems faced:

1. During commencement of the final project, convincing the council and SHGs was

challenging.

2. There was no proper and approachable technical help was available on field during

preparing vermin composting.

3. Convincing citizen to pay user charges was a big task.

4. The temporary shed constructed by the NGO was blown off by heavy winds and rains.

5. The NGO demanded to sign an agreement for maintaining the entire project for 5 years

which was not possible as per KTPP2 Act.

Lessons learnt:

1. The municipality believes that any best practice when considered as a learning

process can be implemented thoroughly.

2. The learning’s gained from other municipality’s experience helps in developing

better system.

3. Formative decision, support from council and head of the organization is very

important for success of this initiative

4. Regular IEC program needs to be conducted for better acceptability and improved

efficiency of user charge collection.

5. As all are not giving the user charges, the municipality has to support the SHGs for

initial years till everyone pay the same.

6. For betterment of SHG who are collecting door to door waste provision to keep

allocation as fund susidy in 22.75 % has to considered by government

Results Achieved

1. 65% door step waste collection

2. Improved waste collection efficiency

3. 60% of the waste is can be recovered through

this initiative in full pledge project which

were earlier land filled

4. Increased landfill site life

5. Clean and hygienic surroundings as improved

the citizen’s quality of life

6. Reduced operation and maintenance cost

under waste management met by the

municipality

7. Empowering BPL women groups by

providing employment

2 Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement

Special Award in best practice symposium By CMAK 2010

Presentation of initiative at MUNICIPALIKA -2011 at Bangalore

Sustainability

This initiative is sustainable due to low maintenance cost and involvement of local

stakeholders.

Transferability

Vermin composting being one of the traditional and common technologies can be easily

replicated by any municipality. The Directorate of Municipal Administration has appreciated

this effort and has asked other Town Municipal Council to follow this initiative. Firm

support and local people involvement can make this initiative a success.

Moreover On this same concept Director of Municipal administration is giving instruction to

other ULBs to take our vermicomposting activity .

Awards:

References:

• Samyuktha Karnataka dated 16-01-2009 and Tarun Bharath dated 6 June 2010