No takers for over 300 tonnes of manure produced at MCCs in Salem Corporation

Over 300 tonnes of manure that are produced at the Micro Composting Centres (MCCs) in Salem Corporation are dumped at the Centres for distribution.

Around 550 tonnes of garbage are generated every day from the 60 Wards in Salem Corporation. At households, garbage is collected door-to-door and the segregated bio-degradable garbage is then sent to 36 MCC in the Corporation. The MCCs produce manure from the waste, with each MCC equipped to produce two tonnes of manure. The produced manure is distributed free-of- cost to farmers and those with terrace gardens. However, in the past five months, over 300 tonnes of manure remains at the MCCs with no takers.

Salem Corporation officials said that 60 tonnes of waste are produced every month. The civic body processes close to 3,000 tonnes of garbage to produce 300 tonnes of manure. While the residents with terrace gardens take the manure, farmers are not evincing interest in the manure because of transport cost and also because they prefer the regular fertilizer to the natural manure. On behalf of the Corporation, with the support of the District Collector, awareness is being created among the farmers during farmers’ grievances redress meetings every month, officials added.