P’kula MC ties up with startup to segregate waste

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 31

The Panchkula Municipal Corporation would set up a material recovery centre (MRC) at MDC, Sector 4. The civic body plans to segregate waste coming from the MDC and convert it into compost.

According to information, the MRC project would be set up in collaboration with Shuddh Sustainable Solutions Private Limited (SSSPL). The SSSPL is a startup launched by young entrepreneurs, including Chandan Hait, Utkarsh Gupta and Chandan Gupta.

At the unit, mixed waste would be segregated and plastic, paper and glass, among others, would be transferred to recyclers. All the waste, including fruits and vegetables, egg shells, paper and cardboard, grass, leaves, branches and twigs, among others would be collected. The firm employs workers from self-help group of rag pickers.

Giving details of the project, Rajesh Jogpal, Administrator and Commissioner, MC said, “Composting is a process which works to speed up natural decay of organic material by providing ideal conditions for detritus-eating organisms to thrive. The end-product of this concentrated decomposition process is nutrient-rich soil that help crops, garden plants and trees to grow.”

Jogpal said, “Capacity of compost pits is 15 tonnes per cycle and each cycle take around 3 months.”

He said around one-tonne garbage and horticulture waste is collected from parks daily. It takes 30 days to convert the same into the compost, he said.

Jogpal said, “A plant was set up in Sector 12 around three months ago. Now, sale has begun of bio manure ‘Organic compost’ manufactured from the municipal solid waste.” The entire 2.5 tonne organic compost was instantly sold at Rs 10 per kg, he added.