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Environmental Studies: Field Work

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FIELD WORK REPORT

On 13 th of June 2010 we ABHINAV RAMACHANDRAN, ADHNAN KP, AGHIL MP, AKHIL RAFAEL & JINESH K B of fourth semester Electronics and Communication Engineering of Vidya Academy of Science & Technology (VAST) visited the Malappuram Municipality Waste Treatment Plant at Melmuri Malappuram as a part of our environmental studies field work. This plant was started in 2004 at the Malappuram Municipality; it is one of the efficient processes where the wastes are converted into bio fertilizer. These fertilizers are used for the development of bio-culture in the Malappuram Municipality. We studied their method of treating wastes and the conversion of wastes into fertilizer.

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CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………..32. OBJECTIVES OF THE FIELD WORK…………………………………………………43. MALAPPURAM MUNICIPALITY……………………………………………………54. MALAPPURAM MUNICIPALITY WASTE TREATMENT PROJECT…….65. CLEAN KERALA GROUP………………………………………………………………..86. WASTE TREATMENT PLANT……………………………………………………………97. WASTE TREATMENT STAGES………………………………………………………….118. BLOCK DIAGRAM………………………………………………………………….………..159. TRANSFORMATION OF WASTES TO BIO-FERTILIZER.………….………….1610. BIOLOGICAL CULTURE…………………………………………….………………………1711. ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS OF BIO FERTILIZER….…..……………………1812. PLASTIC WASTE TREATMENT……………………..….………….…………………..1913. RECOGNITION…………………………………….…..………………….…………………2114. ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS PROJECT……….………………2215. FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE PROJECT………………….………….…………….2316. CONCLUSION……………………………………………….………………….…………….2417. APPENDIX…………………………………………..…………………………….……………25

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INTRODUCTION

Due to increase in population, expansion of township and change in life style wastes from markets and industries are increased. Also with increase in population number of houses in a given area got increased and hence waste disposal become one of the main problem faced by the society. So the wastes from houses are discarding to the roads and public places. This will increase the water, land, and air pollutions; also it will increase pollution bone diseases. Hence waste management is an important problem faced by municipalities and panchayath.

Malappuram Municipality is situated at the heart of Malappuram district. It is a highly populated area in Malappuram. Hosing is one of the main problems in this area. Most of agricultural lands are used for constructing houses hence number of houses in a given area gets increased. So waste management was the main problem faced by the municipality.

In 2004 the main problem faced by the municipality was waste management. Due lack land for houses for the waste deposit, wastes are increased in public places. The municipality decided to introduce a special project for waste management in 2005. It is a clean Kerala project for waste treatment and encouragement of biological culture. In 2010 the municipal areas become free from wastes and foul smell. Clean Malappuram and Green Malappuram is another project of municipality in 2010.

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OBJECTIVES OF THE FIELD WORK

Waste management is one the main problem in many municipal areas. Hence many waste management methods are implemented in several municipalities. Our main objectives of this field are

To study the waste treatment methods of Malappuram municipality To study their methods and procedure for treating the wastes To study about the clean Kerala group To study the transformation of biological wastes to bio fertilizer To study the advantages of biological culture

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MALAPPURAM MUNICIPALITY

Malappuram municipality is one of highly populated area in Malappuram district. It is a crowded housing area. In 2004 there was lack fecilities for waste management. The wastes from houses were the main problem. In 2005 a waste treatment project was inaugurated. It helps to reduce wastes in public places. The municipal committee is mainly interested in waste management. Their main aim of this project was “clean Malappuram”. After the completion of this project now in 2010 the committee decided to start another project “clean Malappuram and green Malappuram”. Since plantation in municipal areas helps to reduce soil erosion and it is helpful for ecological balance of the environment.

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MALAPPURAM MUNICIPALITY WASTE TREATMENT PROJECT

In 2004 one of the main problems faced by Malappuram was wastes and waste dumping. The public areas were of foul smell due to these wastes. The municipality decided to introduce a project for waste management. This worth Rs 68 lac, started with the cooperation of Kerala government. The main objectives of this project are

Cleaning of public places Solution for waste management in houses Participation of public in waste management Transformation of wastes to fertilizer Biological culture Clean Malappuram green Malappuram

It is a “clean Kerala” project for waste management. A special advisory committee was formed with health inspector as chairman. The studied the problems and conduct awareness camps in all wards of municipality and decided to start the Malappuram municipality waste treatment project.

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In 2005 of August 1 the project was inaugurated. This is one of the best projects for waste management in Kerala municipality level.

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CLEAN KERALA GROUP

It is a special group for collecting the wastes from houses and markets. The committee of project selected 40 female volunteers who were interested for waste treatment from “Ayalkootam” and “Kudumbasree” units. And the municipality provided training for these volunteers at Trivandrum.

After their training the members were divided in ward wise. They kept two buckets in each house, one for biological waste and other for plastic wastes. For collecting the wastes from houses each home pay 30 rupees per month. They also kept buckets in shops and hotels and used to get rupees 150 per month to clean Kerala group. The group has a uniform and has got 3 vehicles for collecting the wastes. This also provides a platform for getting jobs to females. Now in 2010 there are 70 members in clean Kerala group. Their work time is from 7am to 12pm. The municipality also conducts awareness camps for the waste treatment. This will provide awareness to public about the evil effects of wastes, water and soil pollution problem and also encourage the public to participate in waste management.

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WASTE TREATMENT PLANT

Malappuram municipality waste treatment plant is situated in Melmuri, 15km away from Malappuram town. It is a place with low population. The municipality bought this land for the waste treatment plant. This plant contains 14 workers of which 11 of them are female.

The sitemap is given below

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The plant contains areas for treatment of wastes for 60 days, special machines for separating the wastes, filtering the powdered wastes, a special burner for plastic wastes. The wastes collected by the clean Kerala group from houses and markets are given to the plant through their vehicles. The process of waste treatment is carried out in the plant. The municipality provides 1.14 lac per year to the plant contractor for better working of the plant. The area is free from houses, so the plant doesn’t make problems to public.

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WASTE TREATMENT STAGES

The wastes collected by the plant are treated to get biological fertilizer. The different stages of waste treatment are described below. The collected wastes are randomly separated, so that the plastic and biological wastes are separated. Most of the wastes from houses are in separated form. The clean Kerala group provides separate buckets for plastic and other wastes.

Now the wastes are passed through a conveyer belt, hence the volunteers can very easily separate the plastic and biological wastes. Plastic wastes are treated in a special incinerator.

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Randomly separate the wastes

Conveyor belt


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The biological wastes are deposited in the plant for 60 days. After 60 days the water content of the wastes are reduced, then the wastes become drier. Within 60 days biological activities occurs in the wastes in the presence of bacteria. The dried wastes are ready for crushing.

Next stage of treatment is crushing the dried wastes through a special crusher. After crushing the wastes are in the powdered form.

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Waste disposal area

Crusher for powdered wastes


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The powdered wastes are now filtered out through a special filter. Municipality provides 30 lac for these machines.

The filtered wastes are bio fertilizer. These fertilizer is packed from the plant. About 10 tons of fertilizer is packed per year. These are used for agricultural purpose.

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Filter for powdered wastes

Bio fertilizer ready for packing


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The municipality also encourages biological culture; the fertilizer from the waste treatment plant is used for this purpose. These fertilizers are eco- friendly in nature. They do not cause any pollution in soil and water.

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Wastes from houses


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BLOCK DIAGRAM

The block diagram of the waste treatment by Malapuram municipality is shown below.

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Wastes from market Wastes from public areas

Collected by Clean Kerala group

Given to waste treatment plant

Separate plastic & biological wastes by passing through a conveyer belt

Biological wastes are treated for 60 days

Crushed in a special crusher for dried wastes

Filtered out and give powdered wastes

Biological fertilizer


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TRANSFORMATION OF WASTS TO BIO FERTILIZER

In Malapuram municipality the wastes are transformed into bio fertilizer. It’s a method with 100% efficiency. The unwanted garbage, market, hotel and house wastes are transformed into biological fertilizer. The municipality practicalizes their duties and forms the clean Kerala group. The wastes are treated and transformed to bio-fertilizer.

Biological culture is healthy to human beings and soil. Bio-fertilizer maintains the soil fertility. Also the biologically cultured food products are healthy.

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BIOLOGICAL CULTURE

Bio Fertilizer are natural and organic fertilizer that helps to keep in the soil

with all the nutrients and live microorganisms required for the benefits of the plants. The

soil is alive and contains a lot of microorganism that produce natural N-K-P and other

nutrients required for agriculture and plants. Using chemical products eventually will kill all

this micro live and transform productive soils in sand in few years. Bio-fertilizer is a substance which contains living microorganisms which, when applied to seed, plant surfaces, or soil, colonizes the rhizophere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant. Bio fertilizers add nutrients through the natural processes of nitrogen fixation, solubilizing phosphorus, and stimulating plant growth through the synthesis of growth promoting substances. Bio-fertilizers can be expected to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides .One of the efficient of producing bio-fertilizer is the conversion of biological wastes into fertilizer. This method has two benefits one is it reduce the waste deposition in public places and second one the produced fertilizer is good for vegetable culture.

The microorganisms in bio-fertilizers restore the soil's natural nutrient cycle and build soil organic matter. Through the use of bio-fertilizers, healthy plants can be grown while enhancing the sustainability and the health of soil. Since they play several roles, a preferred scientific term for such beneficial bacteria is plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR]. Therefore, they are extremely advantageous in enriching the soil fertility and fulfilling the plant nutrient requirements by supplying the organic nutrients through microorganism and their byproduct. Hence, bio-fertilizers do not contain any chemicals which are harmful to the living soil. Bio-fertilizers are Eco-friendly organic agro-input and more cost effective than chemical fertilizers.

In Malappuram municipality the wastes are converted into bio-fertilizer, which is used for vegetable culture. So that soil fertility increases and usage of chemical fertilizers can be reduced.

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ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS OF BIO FERTILIZERS

Cost effective relative to chemical fertilizer and reduces the costs towards fertilizers use, especially regarding nitrogen and phosphorus. It is environmentally friendly fertilizer that not only prevents damaging the natural source but helps to some extend clean the nature from precipitated chemical fertilizer.

As it is living thing, it can symbiotically associate with plant root. Involved microorganisms could readily and safely convert complex organic material in simple compound, so that plant easily taken up. Microorganism function is in long duration causing Improvement of the soil fertility. It maintains the natural habitat of the soil. It Increase crop yield by 20-30%. Replace chemical nitrogen and phosphorus by 25% in addition to Stimulating of the plant growth. Finally it can provide protection against drought and some soil borne diseases.

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PLASTIC WASTE TREATMENT

The plastic wastes separated from the entire wastes by passing through the conveyer belt are incinerated in a special incinerator.

This incinerator contains special adsorbents that adsorb the harmful gases when the plastic burns.

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Incinerator for plastic wastes


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The area where the plant is situated is free from houses, so that this burning is does not cause any harmful effects to the public.

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RECOGNITION

In 2006 Malappuram municipality got swaraj Trophy for stat’s second best municipality in Kerala. The reflected project of the municipality was the municipal waste treatment plant. The next project of the municipality is “Clean Malappuram & Green Malappuram”. The waste treatment project completes its objectives. Now the public areas are free from wastes and agricultural lands are free from chemicals.

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ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS PROJECT

This project has many advantages and some limitations, they are described below.

ADVANTAGES

Helpful to reduce wastes in public places Solve the problem of wastes from houses Transform wastes to bio fertilizer Encouragement of bio-culture Maintenance of soil texture and quality Reduce the usage of chemical fertilizer Reduce pollution borne diseases

LIMITATIONS

Plastic wastes are not managed efficiently Biological fertilizers are not so efficient

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FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE PROJECT

The biological wastes are used for the preparation of earth worm compost Plastic wastes are transformed to useful products Expansion of the use of bio-fertilizer Special method for treatment of plastic wastes Clean Malappuram Green Malappuram

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CONCLUSION

Malappuram Municipality Waste Treatment Project is one of the best projects in Kerala municipality level. The wastes from houses, market and public places are converted into bio-fertilizer. The municipality also encourages bio-vegetable culture. This is an efficient project were wastes are transformed into fertilizer. Municipality now decided to start another project “Clean Malappuram Green Malappuram”.

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APPENDIX

National Newspaper report from THE HINDUMonday, Oct 30, 2006

Malappuram celebrates recognition

Staff Reporter

MALAPPURAM: The Municipal Council here on Sunday conducted the Malappuram town festival, celebrating the award it won from the Government for its people- friendly efforts. Malappuram had won the Swaraj Trophy for the State's second best municipality last year. Honoured Minister for Local Administration Paloli Mohammed Kutty honoured former municipal chairpersons on the occasion. The Minister draped M. Aboobacker, P.K. Kunhu, Sadhu Razak, K. Badarunnisa and C.H. Jameela with ponnada. The former municipal chairman and Indian Union Muslim League leader P.K. Kunhalikutty did not attend the function. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mohammed Kutty called upon the civic body chiefs to compete with one another so that people's planning could be implemented more meaningfully. M. Ummer, MLA, inaugurated the festivities. He honoured the former municipal chairperson C.H. Jameela, who won the award, and the former municipal Opposition leader Paloli Kunhimohammed on the occasion. Municipal Chairman Kiliyamannil Yakoob presided over the function. Vice-chairman Veekshanam Mohammed welcomed the gathering. K.N. Noushad, Kudumbasree district coordinator, led a seminar on `the role of women in poverty eradication'. P.K. Kunhu, district panchayat vice-president; C.P. Hameed, chairman of municipal standing committee for development; Nanath Moosa Haji, chairman of municipal standing committee for health; Ayoob Areekath, chairman of municipal standing committee for public works; and K.P. Anil, municipal Opposition leader were among those who offered felicitation. K. Girija, municipal secretary, proposed a vote of thanks. A cultural procession was taken out through Malappuram town in the evening. A large number of people, including school children, Kudumbasree members, people's representatives and political party workers, took part in the cultural procession. A musical orchestra led by Golden Melodies from Palakkad held on the municipal bus stand premises entertained the large holiday crowd. The musical evening brought an end to the day-long festivities.

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Documents

waste management methods

project clean malappuram

waste deposit

waste disposal

project of municipality

melmuri malappuram

waste treatment stages

plastic waste treatment