Demonstration of appropriate technologies to maximize the recycling and reuse of selected streams (wet and dry) of waste

a) Vermin composting

The wet waste collected from the segregated waste from the 3 streets in the EcoCity project area is being sent to the vermin composting site located outside the core area at Thondavada. The wet waste is converted into compost. The compost so formed in the vermin composting unit is sold at a shop set up by the NGO (SCHWEP) in Bandla Street, at the rate of Rs. 2.50 per kg to farmers and @ Rs. 3 per kg to other people. Besides this, the vermin-culture is also being sold to the farmers along with the compost to augment the fertility of the soil @ Rs. 50 per kg.As a result of usage of vermi compost in farming, 135 acres of land is now being farmed organically in the surroundings of Tirupati. 

Vermin compost Sheds

Vermin compost Beds

Banana Farming using Organic manure

M/s PEN India is currently in the process of establishing a vermi compost plant for the utilization of the wet waste in its localities. The unit should be functional by April 2008.

b) Manufacture of paper bags from waste paper and used newspapers and re-use of waste polythene bags

Twenty women have been identified by the selected NGO (PEN India), under the aegis of CEE [Small Grants Program of Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF-SGP)] for making paper bags from waste paper and used newspapers. These bags are marketed through the shops at Gopuram Lane at Govindaraja Swamy Temple and are looking for other marketing possibilities. The space for establishing the facility has been provided by the Tirupati Municipal Council.

Women making bags from used polythene bags	Women making paper bags from used news papers

For enabling recycling of waste plastic bags, a loom has been installed and the women trained by an NGO (PEN India) on making bags out of the waste plastic bags, using loom. Strips of about 2 cm are made from the waste bags of black and white color and using thread these are weaved to make bags of different sizes. The women are fully trained in making these products.

However, the products don’t have adequate market and the women are unable to generate adequate income. As a next step, it is now being looked into how the product designs could be improved and marketed so that the women could have a decent livelihood from the sale of the products.