Decentralized Biodegradable Kitchen Waste Management Using Microbial Consortia ‘KAU’s Composting Inoculums’ in Urban and Semi Urban Households of Kollam District Through Frontline Demonstrations

The total solid waste produced in Kerala (5 Corporations, 53 Muncipalities and 999 Panchayaths) is approximately 6000 tonnes/day and around eighty percentage of this is biodegradable. The disposal of such large quantities of solid biodegradable waste has become a serious problem in corporations and municipalities. The observations made by the Kendra found that the people are not aware of scientific and easy methods of waste disposal at the source itself, resulting in accumulation of such large quantities. In this context the Kendra popularized a novel technology developed by KAU for solid organic waste management (kitchen and house hold) using a microbial consortia ‘composting inoculam’ in the households of Kollam Corporation of Kerala and nearby places through frontline demonstrations during the year 2014-2015. The primary objective of this technology was the disposal of kitchen and food waste at the source itself. This eco-friendly, environmentally sound and economically viable technology attracted the attention of other urban dwellers and local administration. In the demonstrations, a pot with a dimension of 60 cm height and 60 cm diagonal converted 34.78 kg kitchen waste to 6.93 kg compost in 71 days. They could also utilize the compost for growing crops in backyard and terraces.