URBAN ORGANIC SOLID WASTE: PRACTICES INHYDERABAD 217
Currently, the MCH has undertaken initiatives for both large-scale and small-scale
private garbage-processing units. The municipal corporation of Hyderabad has entered
into an agreement with a private sector company for anaerobic composting units to
generate power and pellets (Selco International Limited). The company has established
a plant at Gandamguda dumpsite producing fuel pellets from mixed waste^7.
Decentralised Composting
Decentralised composting can be broadly divided into two categories, viz. single
source waste and multi-source mixed waste composting. As part of its ‘voluntary
garbage disposal scheme’ (VGDS: see chapter 3 for details), the MCH also included
decentralised composting at the neighbourhood level on an experimental basis. Orig-
inally, the Reddy Foundation undertook to compost waste in a neighbourhood park,
where it was to be converted into manure through a vermiculture process. The munic-
ipal corporation of Hyderabad allotted a plot there for the NGO to undertake
decentralised composting. However, the scheme ran into difficulties because mixed
waste was delivered to the park, and nearby residents protested the deterioration of
their environment. Now, another NGO, Sukuki Exnora, has taken over the scheme, in
which the waste delivered is market waste (largely organic), and the location has been
shifted to a less central place in the park. Composting is done on a very small-scale,
and cannot be said to have any measurable impact on SWM in the city.
A second initiative was undertaken with the help of the MCH by the SPEQL. It estab-
lished a composting unit near Kothapet fruit market. The fruit, grain and vegetable
waste generated in the fruit market was utilised by the SPEQL for vermicomposting
without making any payment either for the garbage or for the site allotted in the market
yard. The authorities of the MCH supplied fruit, grain and vegetable waste free of cost.
The project originally started as a pilot, but is now working on a larger scale, after
recovering from a fire, which stopped work for several months. Eight people work in
the yard currently (both men and women). According to recent information it has 15
beds for composting, able to handle 90 trucks of waste. Organic waste is combined
with neem oil cake and cow dung to make it more useful. Compost is bought both by
government nurseries and the public. Training on vermicomposting is also provided
through this channel.
A number of other actors in Hyderabad also carry out composting activities. These
include the military at their farms in Bowenpally (dairy and agricultural activities),
who carry out vermi- composting utilising cow dung slurry and farm waste. In the city,
cow dung has been used for composting by nurseries. The organic manure generated
through composting is mixed with red soil and used at the time of planting.
- The latest information indicates that the plant is processing 200 tons daily, although it is designed to
put through 700 tons per day.