Zero-pollution incinerator for sanitary pads

The increasing number of used sanitary napkins and diapers that end up with the pile of solid waste pose a grave threat to human health, as they carry disease-causing microorganisms.  

Now, a local company has come up with an incinerator that promises to burn and dispose of them without smoke or ash.

The new incinerator uses water to smother the smoke - possibly toxic, given the
substances used in napkins and diapers - and dilutes the ash.

At schools, hospitals

"This can be easily drained," said Nisha Nazre, founder of the company Zuci Fem Care Private Limited, who hopes to install the mini incinerators in BBMP-run schools and hospitals in 2018.

Made in two categories - with eight- and 12-litre storage capacity and 5 KW or 2.5 KW of power - the machines are currently in the testing stage.

Nazre launched the low-cost incinerators in March 2016 and installed them in BBMP-owned schools and hospitals at a cost of Rs 50 lakh.

"Sanitary pads and diapers need to be disposed of safely. It is appalling to see them lying around in the dumps. They are a source of infection," she pointed out.

The BBMP estimates that the city generates 90 tonnes of sanitary pads and 60 tonnes of diapers a day. The piling waste has been burnt by three privately-managed incinerators, Sarfaraz Khan, the  special commissioner at the city body, said.

Lack of awareness

Lack of awareness about segregating them before handing them over to the pourakarmikas remains a huge challenge, he added.

"Educating the public
on segregation is vital because most of the times the sanitary pads are clubbed with the
dry waste and they don't reach the incinerators," Sarfaraz Khan said.

The  special commissioner said  that Nazre demonstrated the new machine, which
the BBMP would procure after the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board approves it.

DH News Service