Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has taken a unique initiative to convert vegetable waste into compost using organic waste composting machines. The machines have been installed in 9 vegetable and fruit markets and 29 other places in the city.
SMC collects about 2800 kg of garbage from 9 vegetable and fruit markets of the city daily. Out of this, 477 kg of vegetable waste is processed into manure using the organic waste composting machines. The compost is currently being used in municipal gardens and school gardens, and the remaining fertilizer is given to farmers at a nominal price.
The machines are currently operational in the city's Vijaynagar-Udhna, Citylight, Bhestan, Pandesara, Dindoli, Patel Park, Sonal and Divya Jyot as well as Kanskiwad vegetable markets. Each machine processes 100 to 500 kg of waste per day and turns it into compost.
Chirayu Jain, worker of Biofix Private Limited, the company that has installed the machines, said that the company was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Clean India Mission'. He said that the organic waste composting machines have been started in various vegetable and fruit markets of the city as well as in malls, markets and parks with high traffic.
Jain further said that the wet waste collected from the markets and other places is put into the organic waste composting machines in the evening. The waste becomes organic fertilizer within 24 hours. With the help of SMC, biofertilizer made from waste is supplied to about 200 farmers of the city and district at a nominal rate.
SMC's initiative is a commendable step towards reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices. The organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste can be used to improve soil health and productivity, which can benefit farmers and the environment.
