<p>Dr Venugopal B, consultant and orthopaedic surgeon, had no idea his wife has been composting domestic waste for two years.</p>.<p>It was only during a course titled Self-Expression Leadership Programme (SELP), as part of which he had to do a project, that he found out.</p>.<p>With his newfound knowledge, he decided to work on cleaning up the Konanakunte area, a southern Bengaluru neighbourhood.</p>.<p>He now devotes time and energy to promoting the cause.</p>.<p>“Most people are surprised to know how easy it is to compost your home waste. In fact, I was astonished when I first learnt about it,” he says. </p>.<p>During his research, he realised that 60 to 70 per cent of the waste at home is food and the remaining plastic.</p>.<p>“It’s mandatory to segregate your wet and dry waste, according to government rules. So instead of throwing your wet waste into a regular waste bin, throw it into a compost bin. Three to four weeks later, you get really good black manure for your kitchen garden,” explains Venugopal.</p>.<p>Dumping of waste is a major problem in our city. Many leave their domestic waste on roads. The BBMP doesn’t have a great record in garbage management either.</p>.<p>Because of the magnitude of the problem, landfills on the outskirts of the city are producing poisonous methane gas and the odour adds to air pollution. </p>.<p>The government is looking for more villages near Bengaluru to dump waste, but that is not the way to go. The BBMP should start a composting system, he suggests. “But that seems like a far fetched wish, so we are trying our best to convince citizens to make a change at home,” he says. </p>.<p>Though he has to shuttle between his clinics during weekends, he keeps his Sundays free to spread awareness.</p>.<p>“I have been meeting various associations and clubs on Sundays and teaching them about home composting. About 20 people have taken up the initiative. Whenever I can, I tell my patients also about it, in the hope that they might want to join the cause too,” he told <span class="italic">Metrolife</span>. </p>.<p>He has also been talking to shopkeepers but they complain customers throw cups and plastic wrapping everywhere. </p>.<p>“My son, an eighth standard student, had to grow a plant using different types of soil and fertilisers as part of a school project. By the end of the project, he was proud that the soil with home compost had the most growth,” he says.</p>.<p>If a little student can understand the importance of home composting, citizens can do their bit for the environment, and with pride, he says. </p>.<p><br /><span><strong>Small steps to turn waste into wealth</strong></span><br />“Start home composting and in a few weeks, you can use the manure for your plants. Use the waste as best as you can. As for the plastic, collect it in a bin and every couple of weeks, take it to the vendor nearby for recycling. You can also make money this way,” says Dr Venugopal.</p>.<p><span><strong>Benefits of home composting</strong></span><br />- It’s dead simple.</p>.<p>- Does not call for too much space.</p>.<p>- No mosquito breeding.</p>.<p>- No water and bad odour.</p>.<p><span><strong>For ready home compost kits</strong></span><br />- Order them on sites such as Amazon and Flipkart.</p>.<p>- Daily Dump, conservation group: 98801 28011</p>.<p>- Soil & Health, social enterprise: 98456 90778</p>.<p><span><strong>Upcoming meetings</strong></span><br />- January 22: Home composting demo by Vasuki Iyengar at Adarsh Mahila Samaj, Konanakunte.<br />- Compost awareness meet at Srinidhi Layout, and at JP Nagar Senior Citizen Club scheduled in February.</p>.<p>Call Dr Venugopal on 984557 12363 for tips and composting advice.</p>
<p>Dr Venugopal B, consultant and orthopaedic surgeon, had no idea his wife has been composting domestic waste for two years.</p>.<p>It was only during a course titled Self-Expression Leadership Programme (SELP), as part of which he had to do a project, that he found out.</p>.<p>With his newfound knowledge, he decided to work on cleaning up the Konanakunte area, a southern Bengaluru neighbourhood.</p>.<p>He now devotes time and energy to promoting the cause.</p>.<p>“Most people are surprised to know how easy it is to compost your home waste. In fact, I was astonished when I first learnt about it,” he says. </p>.<p>During his research, he realised that 60 to 70 per cent of the waste at home is food and the remaining plastic.</p>.<p>“It’s mandatory to segregate your wet and dry waste, according to government rules. So instead of throwing your wet waste into a regular waste bin, throw it into a compost bin. Three to four weeks later, you get really good black manure for your kitchen garden,” explains Venugopal.</p>.<p>Dumping of waste is a major problem in our city. Many leave their domestic waste on roads. The BBMP doesn’t have a great record in garbage management either.</p>.<p>Because of the magnitude of the problem, landfills on the outskirts of the city are producing poisonous methane gas and the odour adds to air pollution. </p>.<p>The government is looking for more villages near Bengaluru to dump waste, but that is not the way to go. The BBMP should start a composting system, he suggests. “But that seems like a far fetched wish, so we are trying our best to convince citizens to make a change at home,” he says. </p>.<p>Though he has to shuttle between his clinics during weekends, he keeps his Sundays free to spread awareness.</p>.<p>“I have been meeting various associations and clubs on Sundays and teaching them about home composting. About 20 people have taken up the initiative. Whenever I can, I tell my patients also about it, in the hope that they might want to join the cause too,” he told <span class="italic">Metrolife</span>. </p>.<p>He has also been talking to shopkeepers but they complain customers throw cups and plastic wrapping everywhere. </p>.<p>“My son, an eighth standard student, had to grow a plant using different types of soil and fertilisers as part of a school project. By the end of the project, he was proud that the soil with home compost had the most growth,” he says.</p>.<p>If a little student can understand the importance of home composting, citizens can do their bit for the environment, and with pride, he says. </p>.<p><br /><span><strong>Small steps to turn waste into wealth</strong></span><br />“Start home composting and in a few weeks, you can use the manure for your plants. Use the waste as best as you can. As for the plastic, collect it in a bin and every couple of weeks, take it to the vendor nearby for recycling. You can also make money this way,” says Dr Venugopal.</p>.<p><span><strong>Benefits of home composting</strong></span><br />- It’s dead simple.</p>.<p>- Does not call for too much space.</p>.<p>- No mosquito breeding.</p>.<p>- No water and bad odour.</p>.<p><span><strong>For ready home compost kits</strong></span><br />- Order them on sites such as Amazon and Flipkart.</p>.<p>- Daily Dump, conservation group: 98801 28011</p>.<p>- Soil & Health, social enterprise: 98456 90778</p>.<p><span><strong>Upcoming meetings</strong></span><br />- January 22: Home composting demo by Vasuki Iyengar at Adarsh Mahila Samaj, Konanakunte.<br />- Compost awareness meet at Srinidhi Layout, and at JP Nagar Senior Citizen Club scheduled in February.</p>.<p>Call Dr Venugopal on 984557 12363 for tips and composting advice.</p>
