Problem to Profit - Waste to wealth a possibility

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.

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

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