EDMC TO INSTALL ORGANIC WASTE CONVERTERS IN PARKS FROM JAN

NEWDELHI: To speed up the process of disposing wet garbage collected from residential areas, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has planned to install ‘organic waste converters’ in neighbourhood parks from January onwards.

The machines will convert the wet garbage into compost in just three days, compared to the three months’ time required in ‘vermicomposting’ process, at present. Further, no foul smell will be emitted in this process.

On pilot basis, the civic body has approved installation of waste converters in four parks (in planned colonies), where concept of ‘segregating garbage at source’ has already been introduced.

The areas include Anand Vihar, Preet Vihar (Herbal Park), Dilshad Garden and Loni Road DDA flats.

“As per solid waste management rules 2016, segregation of garbage at source is compulsory and sooner or later we are going to introduce the concept in all colonies. However, simultaneously we are also looking for methods to treat the garbage within the vicinity,” said senior official from department of environment management services, EDMC.

The civic body generates 22002800 metric tonne of garbage every day, and out of that nearly 60% constitutes wet waste, which ends up at the landfill. With composting, it aims to reduce the waste landing at the dumpsites.

At each park, civic body will occupy 15X25 feet area for installing machines, an electric panel and storing segregated garbage. “The whole process of converting waste into compost will be done in close monitoring of the EDMC staff,” said official.

Though the agency has constructed composting pits in neighbourhood parks at Preet Vihar few months back, it takes at least 2-3 months for converting segregated waste in to compost.