U:
>The other relevant point has been indicated by Chandan Da ( i.e. >space constraint) and as frequents >Guwahati I think he is of the >opinion that it is do-able despite that. **** In waterlogging areas, it won't be a good idea to place a compost bin on the ground. In such instances a raised, rotating barrel would be the most ideal. This will be the most applicable solution to those whose yard is small or has only a flat-roof available. But even for waterlogging areas, in most cases the water does not remain there for days on end. Just a couple of days or so. In such instances a ground based compost bin will still work. But if the pile gets thoroughly saturated it must be turned over by hand with a pitch-fork. Otherwise it will rot and result in non-decomposition, emitting foul odors and the like. This is a task, unlikely to be performed by the average urban-Kharkhowa , 'babu' or otherwise. Rural folks or rural transplants who believe in their mission are the ones who probably will take the trouble. So, the raised barrel seems to be the most effective solution, in more ways than one. Even an IAS or a minister can load it and turn it once a couple-of-days or so, without having to wait for the security-detail or the 'servant' to do it. Here is a sophisticated one: https://www.compostumbler.com/StoreFront/IAFDispatcher I will however caution the consumer on the claim of compost in two weeks: It is, at best, a hype, if not entirely an untruthful claim. Three months would be a more reasonable expectation in most instances. We produce about two batches of compost, 3' X 3' X 3' in a year. But we are hampered by the cold winters when the digestion process slows down drastically, almost to a standstill. I am also an experienced compost-maker, aside from being an able carpenter, who can build effective compost bins. I can write a book on it . Unlike the claims of certain fellow-NRAs in these shores, I am not ALL talk. If nothing else, I CAN at least make compost - and can prove it to boot. > I hear that in New York and such big cities in the US garbage/ >sewage disposal is a big business for >the Mafia (Chinese?)? Is it >true? *** Waste disposal and treatment is indeed a BIG Business in the USA! So is compost making. It is also a very IMPORTANT one. With good reason. And the results are all over to be seen. You will rarely find the kind of garbage strewn filthy environments in US cities that are so commonplace in most developing societies. I have never been to China, but I think Chinese cities are a whole lot cleaner than the best of Indian cities. Singapore is like the best of the developed countries. I was highly impressed by the cleanliness of the little towns and settlements inhabited by Monpas in Arunachal last November. They are so much more cleaner than our urban settlements of the plains. Mafia? Surely, there might be Mafia and/or other such nefarious dealers in any organized industry that does not attract society's best. But it still works and fairly well. The alternative would be far less desirable. We are however not here to compare India or Oxom with other societies. The point is that we ought to be able to do a whole lot better than we do. Question is how? WHO will lead the charge for positive change ? c-da At 3:20 AM +0100 5/15/08, uttam borthakur wrote: >Mahanta Da > > Can it be done in the low lying (due to raising of road levels and >the beds of natural drains) flood prone parts of Guwahati? A good >percentage of the city comes under this description. The other >relevant point has been indicated by Chandan Da ( i.e. space >constraint) and as frequents Guwahati I think he is of the opinion >that it is do-able despite that. > > Though I do not want to sound like a skeptic, the journalists >should make sure that whatever is indicated by them as imperative in >their report (that has received so much attention even before it has >been hatched) is translated into action. Because, the State has more >or less abdicated its responsibilities and most of the NGOs are no >saints. Chandan Da's proposal ( and Mahanta Da's indications) have >highlighted the 'profit orientation' of the conversion to compost >and this angle may be taken into account so that its organic garb >attracts private investors with a profit motive. > > I hear that in New York and such big cities in the US garbage/ >sewage disposal is a big business for the Mafia (Chinese?)? Is it >true? > >mc mahant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >Journalists will do immense good to mass- publicize this simple >do-it-at -home promo from Chandan Mahanta as a preliminary to >High-Tech/Big-money Action plan for SWM for Guahati. > >Nava Thakuria can request Chandan for a simple pictorial "do >this>then do that>and finally get compost for double benefit" >annexure -which can be given many-weeks' repeat coverage in >papers/TV. > >Only then can the point be driven fully home .They vaguely know it >already.This will consolidate. > >Underline " Separate food wastes to bring double gain at all homes" >-rather than choke up the Municipal Solid Waste Management Plant(if >and when). >mm > >-------------------------------------------------------------> Date: >Wed, 14 May 2008 09:05:01 -0500> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; >assam@assamnet.org> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Assam] >Journalists to study garbage management> > Allow me to throw in one >little suggestion:> > Rotting vegetable/plant and other organic >waste is a major problem > in South Asian cities and towns. More so >during the rainy season.> > It can be immensely mitigated and very >easily too, IF every household > that lives on the ground floor or >have access to a small yard or a > flat roof, COMPOSTS their >vegetable/plant/organic waste. The compost > can be recycled to >enrich the soil and the foul smelling, scavenging > animal >attracting street dumps would be vastly reduced.> > In a densely >populated urban environment the composting must be done > in a >contained environment, as opposed to piling up in a corner of > the >yard, which does not allow effective "digestion" of the material > by > aerobic bacteria, becomes an eyesore and provides shelter for >rats > and other vermin.> > How to do it?> > Simplest way is to >build three containers, contiguous to each other, > with bamboo >'jewra' lined with 'dhari', each about 30" wide X 30"long > X 30" >high. During the rainy season, they should be covered by a> sheet of >poly-film supported by a bamboo framework.> > Why three? Because >once the first one gets full and the contents are > partially >decomposed, it can be moved into the second one with a > pitch-fork. >The turning of the contents will further accelerate > decomposition >in the second chamber. When it gets full the "ripe" > compost can >then be forked over into the third for storage and use in > the >garden.> > Two chambers will suffice if the household does not >generate too much waste.> > Those who do not have a yard or only a >small one or have a flat roof, > can use a metal or plastic drum, >about 2' in diameter X 3' long, with > a closable window ( by cutting > out a 12" X 12" section on the side, > then attaching it back with >hinges and lips and a latch. These can > be mass produced by a >water-tank manufacturer, or by an individual > equipped to perform >simple welding/soldering tasks. The drum can be > placed on a pair >of X-type supports, and rotated once a week or so to > accelerate >decomposition. There should be a few holes opposite the > window and >on the ends to allow air to enter and fluids to drain out.> Good air >movement is essential to prevent ROTTING. Waterlogging also > will >cause rotting and create bad odors.> > Sophisticated drum compost >bins have a handle with a simple gear > mechanism to facilitate easy >hand cranking for rotating.> > BTW, the composting process is NOT >the same as ROTTING. Composting is > done by aerobic bacteria by >digesting the organic material. Rotting > is the opposite of >that--prevention of bacterial digestion due to> absence of air in >tightly packed dumps and steeped in too much > moisture or > water.> > When the material is lying around too loosely in a corner >dump, the > heat generated by bacterial decomposition cannot be >utilized > effectively to accelerate the process. And too dry an >environment in > the loosely packed dump will not even start the >bacterial digestion > process.> > I can provide designs for both if >someone wants to take up the project.> > We have been composting all >our kitchen and yard waste for over thirty years.> > CAUTION: Do NOT >place meat waste or pet excreta in your compost bins. > Fish waste >is fine. Cow dung is GREAT additive.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > At >6:48 AM +0000 5/14/08, Nava Thakuria wrote:> >Journalists to study >garbage management> >> >GUWAHATI, May 11: Guwahati Press Club has >decided to study the > >problem of garbage management in Northeast >with special reference to > >biomedical wastes. This was stated in a >press release.> >This is a known fact that Guwahati is the crowded >city with a > >population of nearly 20,00,000 and > produces heaps of garbages > >everyday. More over, the city has >emerged as a health care hub for > >the state as well as for the >seven neighbouring states serving more > >than three crore >people.> >One can easily imagine the quantity of hazardous >biomedical wastes > >that the hospitals and pathological labs >produce in a single day.> >But unfortunately enough, the city does >not have an adequate modern > >system to deal with the >situation.> >Though the Ministry of Environment and Forests (GoI) >issued > >Municipal Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules in 2000, >the > >present state of garbage management system in Guwahati is not >able > >to cope-up with the need of the time.> >The study will cover >all aspects of garbage management in the city. > >A group of >journalists will take the initiative and finally compile > >a >comprehensive report in English on the issue. >Interested > >journalists (must be Guwahati based), are requested to >contact the > >secretary, Guwahati Press Club > > >(e-mail:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) latest by May >31.> >> >> >> >_______________________________________________> >assam >mailing >list> >assam@assamnet.org> >>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> > > >_______________________________________________> assam mailing list> >assam@assamnet.org> >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >_________________________________________________________________ >Watch hottest Bollywood videos, clips, movie tailors, star >interviews, songs and more on MSN videos. >http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-in >_______________________________________________ >assam mailing list >assam@assamnet.org >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > > > >Uttam Kumar Borthakur > > >--------------------------------- > Share files, take polls, and make new friends - all under one roof. >Click here. >_______________________________________________ >assam mailing list >assam@assamnet.org >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _______________________________________________ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
