Go for vermi-bins, help green city campaign

Disposal of garbage has been a challenge for civic bodies in urban areas. If urban residents use the degradable daily domestic waste for producing vermi-manure in their houses, the volume of garbage accumulating in cities can be reduced drastically.

However, the disposal of plastic, electronic and industrial wastes will continue to be a problem as they can not be used in the production of vermicompost. Taking cue from vermi-technology unit at the Department of Zoology in St Aloysius College, the Mangalore City Corporation is planning to start vermicompost units in two wards in the city on a pilot project.

The wards include Court and Padav. Speaking to City Herald, Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner Dr Vijayprakash said Mangalore City Corporation in association with Malabar Gold will carry out green city campaign in the City Corporation limits. Accordingly, on a pilot project, two wards have been selected for vermicompost units.

“After the success of the units in these two wards, the facility will be extended to all the other wards in the City Corporation,” he said.

Corporator Ranganath Kini said the vermicompost units is a novel venture being carried out by the City Corporation. Normally, vegetable wastes, dry leaves are put into dustbins. However, here it can be used for the preparation of vermicompost. One bin can cater to four households. Only vegetable wastes have to be put into the bin for manuring. “Normally, we sweep dry leaves inside our compound and burn it. Instead, here it can be used for productive purposes. Once you put all the wastes, it takes 21 days for manuring. In fact, he says there are several people who are ready to buy vermicompost. The vermicompost units will be started within a week. We have already received the vermi-bins. At present, we have two bins. Looking at the response from the public, we may go for two more bins,” he added.

The liquid or vermi-wash which comes out of vermi-bin can be sprinkled to coconut palms to control mite disease as per the research carried out by College Zoology Department Head Dr Harish Joshi.

The base of the vermi-bin is specially designed in a slanted manner, enabling easy channeling of the vermi-wash, and pipes are attached to the bin to collect it effectively. The vermi-wash is much more nutritious than the vermicompost, as it contains the body fluid of the earthworm too.  

A vermi-bin is a box like structure made of fiber, with two compartments. The box has a water channel at the base of it, which would prevent ants from climbing up the box.

There are lids for both the compartments to resist rats. However, there are ventilation on the sides for aeration, but they too are duly protected from rats.

To top it all, the vermi-bin is movable. The four rollers attached make sure that the sun doesn’t kill the worms. The household waste materials are dumped into the first compartment.

The partition between the two compartments has holes which are closed, in order to control the worms from moving on to the other chamber. Once the first chamber is full, the holes are opened and fresh waste is dumped into the second chamber. The compost, ready in the first chamber can then be removed and the chamber can be used to dump fresh waste, when the decomposition is over in the second chamber. In fact, the bin is patented by St Aloysius College, Kini says.

He said that high quality organic manure can be prepared by the households themselves in their home by establishing vermicompost unit using biodegradable farm waste available in their farms such as dried leaves, vegetable and fruit waste and crop remains, which is burnt otherwise.

“Once we start the unit, we will be giving the compost to St Aloysius College, who in turn will market it. Moreover, this bin does not produce staunch smell,” he added. 

The vermi-manure is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It also contains calcium, sulphur, magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, copper and organic carbon. Vitamins, minerals, plant growth substances and hormones are also found in vermi-manure. Vermi-compost does not cost much. If all people use this method, garbage produced in the city could be reduced drastically. This will help reduce the volume of garbage being dumped at Pacchanady as well.