7 more temples recycle biodegradable waste | Trichy News
Trichy: Inspired by the sustainable waste management model at Arulmigu Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, seven temples started recycling flower and…
Trichy: Inspired by the sustainable waste management model at Arulmigu Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, seven temples started recycling flower and other biodegradable waste
Placing compost bins, authorities of seven temples instructed devotees and temple staffers to dump only biodegradable in them so they could be converted into manure later. Doing so, temples might not have to depend on local body to dispose of their biodegradable and garden waste.
Under the green temple initiative sponsored by CSR funding from ITC in association with Hindu religious & charitable endowments (HR&CE) department and Trichy Exnora, a biogas plant has been installed in Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam in March 2018.
Since then, the temple has been producing biogas equivalent to 19-20 kg commercial LPG cylinder per day, using the food waste from the temple kitchen and cow dung from the temple’s cattle shed. The biogas production helps the temple kitchen save Rs 1,500 a day.
Besides, the temple also converts banana leaves used in Annadhanam and vegetable waste in temple’s kitchen into manure using the composting bins. Taking inspiration, seven temples in city will emulate the practice, authorities said. Composting bins with 100 kg capacity have been given away to seven temples including Rockfort temple complex and Akilandeswari temple in Thiruvanaikoil. These were provided under green temple initiative to stock the flower and biodegradable waste.
“Effective Microorganism (EM) solution shall be sprayed over the biodegradable waste collected in the bins to expedite the recycling process. Manure produced after 40 days shall be used in respective temple’s garden,” A V Elampooranan, project coordinator, ITC Sunehra Kal said. Seven temples producing around 50-70 kg of biodegradable waste mostly flowers each day can produce 10-14 kg of manure. If the manure production becomes surplus, the green temple initiative has planned to encourage the temple management to sell the manure to devotees for a price.
“As a part of Swachhata Hi Seva, we have been sensitising devotees to avoid plastic products. More temples shall be brought under the green temple initiative’s sustainable waste management model,” C Balasubramanian, Honourary president, Trichy district Exnora said.
