Published on 09/05/2011
First Update 29/03/2017
To create eco-awareness among students, Siruthuli, an organisation that works for the revival of water bodies in Coimbatore and promoting a clean city, has formed Siruthuli Eco Forum in 24 schools in the city of Coimbatore.
The students of National Model School in Peelamedu, G.R. Damodaran School on Avanashi Road and Elgi Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Vellalore have set up bio-compost pits on the school premises to decompose wastes into organic manure. Two baskets are kept at various points inside the campus – one for non-biodegradable wastes such as chocolate wrappers, pen caps and plastic bags and another for biodegradable wastes that include food leftovers, waste papers, dry leaves, dry flowers and twigs.
Coordinator of Siruthuli A.C. Prabhu says the process is simple. “With the help of students, a six ft length, four ft breadth and one ft deep pit is dug out and waste from trees inside the school campus and vegetable wastes are dumped into it and covered by a layer of soil. Water and diluted Effective Microbes (EM) solution are added and the contents are allowed to decay. After 45 days, the waste is decomposed into manure and used for the afforestation programme of the school,” he adds.
The students visit neighbouring areas to spread awareness on the need to have bio-compost pits. They give a demonstration on the method to be followed beginning with segregation of waste at source.
The amount of soil available in potted plants is sufficient for a bio-compost pit. A litre of EM solution concentrate comes at Rs. 240 and is available at outlets selling agro-based products. It can be diluted with 100 litres of water and sprayed on the contents on alternate days.