Heal Ponnurunni, CIFT collaborate for sustainable waste management

Kochi: HEAL Ponnurunni Society, which is engaged in sustainable waste management, is collaborating with Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT). CIFT officials and office-bearers of the society signed a memorandum of understanding for sustainable waste management on Friday.

In the presence of mayor M Anilkumar, the memorandum was exchanged between CIFT director George Ninan and HEAL Ponnurunni Society president and corporation councillor Dipin Dileep. Ninan explained the technologies developed under Swachhta Action Plan to mayor. To promote environmental protection and waste management in agriculture, CIFT developed BioBoost and MicroBoost (a microbial mixture). As part of the agreement, these products will be provided to HEAL Ponnurunni. CIFT will assist in fertilizer production, testing and expanding HEAL model to other areas.

Under the leadership of Dileep, activities of HEAL Ponnurunni Society became a new model for waste management. HEAL model, which involves collecting waste from homes and institutions, converting it into fertilizer and using it for agriculture, gained national attention.

Waste management in the division has been made smarter through My Kochi app, with QR codes installed in 1,800 homes and institutions. Information on waste removal and fees can be accessed through the app. User fees are collected via POS machines, first implemented in this division. Waste collection is carried out by Haritha Karma Sena members. The collected waste is converted into enriched fertilizer and sold under the name HEAL Environment at Rs 30 per kg.

Besides selling fertilizer, the society also engages in farming on vacant plots in the division under agreements with landowners. Currently, various crops, including banana and eggplant, are cultivated on 76 cents. Sale of agricultural produce is conducted through HEAL Harvest outlet at the society's headquarters located under Vyttila flyover.