Hotels generate
anywhere from 300-1000 kgs of wet waste (food, vegetable chopping
etc) and restaurants from about 25 to 200 kgs based on their size and
popularity. This waste is considered a nuisance as decaying food will
emit stink and will harm the serenity of the surroundings.
With the advent of the recently mandated Solid Waste Management
guidelines and stricter implementation of the same by the local
bodies it is becoming increasingly difficult for the waste generators
to simply transfer the responsibility to contractors who are deployed
by the local bodies meant for handling the city's garbage.
 "Food waste")
These establishments
enter into an understanding with the contractors to lift their food
waste and dispose it off elsewhere on payments, which are not above
board. These contractors in turn might end up dumping this waste into
the municipal dumps, leading to foul smell and even generation of
Leachate.
Local bodies have
been insisting for the past few years with these waste generators to
set up bio digester units or Vermi-composting units. Problem for these
establishments is the non availability of practical solutions for
this problem. Most of the Bio-digester being offered in India require
civil construction and huge set up. Imagine a restaurant located at
higher floors how will they ensure all these. Coming to hotels, their
inability to provide space for setting up these plants.
A day is not too far
where the local bodies will be constrained to come down heavily on
the violators of the guidelines on waste management. Already
Bengaluru city corporation has issued a threat to not renew the trade
license if waste management compliance is not ensured. So have many other local bodies in different forms
However, these waste
generators have solutions available which can not only ensure
compliance but turn their problem into a profit. There are smart
looking systems available which not only ensure the waste is
converted into a useful bio gas (could be used in the kitchens of
these outlets) will also ensure there is no foul smell emanating and
can be smartly installed anywhere, on ground floor or on terrace or
even in the corridor of the restaurant. Mostly less spoken benefit is
the bio slurry that comes out of these digesters is the healthiest
organic manure for kitchen and terrace gardens and for farming
activity at large.
Waste will no longer
a problem but will turn into wealth for these business establishment.
It has been established that LPG consumption comes down about 20-30%
based on the quantum of waste generated by using the Bio gas
generated through the Bio Digesters. With commercial LPG prices
ranging at Rs70 per Kg it will be a considerable saving. No more
payouts to the local body contractors for illegally taking away the
food/wet waste. Slurry can be another money spinner if the same could
be made available in carry away packaging. Most importantly instead of contributing to methane generation in the dumps these establishments will be utilising the methane in the food waste for productive purpose in the form of Bio-Gas and earn carbon credits
(Copy right of the images used in the article rests with the respective owners, they have been used only for the purpose of visualisation)
