Today my Environment & Health class had quite the excursion, where everything but the technology stunk (and I literally mean stunk/stinks/vomit-inducing...) We had the opportunity to visit the two solid-waste management facilities in Mysore (1) solid trash waste, aka the dump - (2) the liquid-solid biological waste, aka the sewage treatment center. We were able to see how waste management is able to function, along with seeing how the technologies these places use work, in highly urban areas.
Our first stop began shortly after our van was swarmed by a large family of flies - mmm trash! Surprisingly, given the city of Mysore generates 2,000 metric tons of garbage A DAY, the solid-waste treatment center did not smell too badly. I say that with caution though...
Our second stop was right up the road. We took bets in the van, which would smell worse: the trash or the poop? Just by the first wiff, the poop won. Big surprise?
Interestingly, the Mysore complex has allowed grasses and trees to grow in the fields where the sewage drains from the pipes. This naturally creates a manure to keep the trees fertile so they can produce something of great need near the sewage containers: oxygen. I found this really interesting, given many waste-water treatment centers in the U.S. seem to be isolated in empty lots. I thought it was a cool way to maintain the natural landscape.
Our first stop began shortly after our van was swarmed by a large family of flies - mmm trash! Surprisingly, given the city of Mysore generates 2,000 metric tons of garbage A DAY, the solid-waste treatment center did not smell too badly. I say that with caution though...
The two photos above show how the machines integrate processing and sifting features to sort the waste into bio-degradable usable and non-bio-degradable forms
General wastes (animal, sharp, solid, liquid, and incineration ash) account for 85% of all waste generated
Just to see everything in action..
Quite the site: heaps of garbage and the beautiful Indian landscape just behind
As I looked closer, I noticed the hill behind the heaping piles of trash is Chamundi Hill
(that was the first cultural trip I took one MONTH ago...)
After the sorting process occurs (through a series of machines) the garbage is reduced to piles of this silt-like manure material, which is then bagged (picture below) and sold to farmers and agriculturalists at a reduced rate. Farmers can now use this organic compost in their fields!
Our second stop was right up the road. We took bets in the van, which would smell worse: the trash or the poop? Just by the first wiff, the poop won. Big surprise?
Interestingly, the Mysore complex has allowed grasses and trees to grow in the fields where the sewage drains from the pipes. This naturally creates a manure to keep the trees fertile so they can produce something of great need near the sewage containers: oxygen. I found this really interesting, given many waste-water treatment centers in the U.S. seem to be isolated in empty lots. I thought it was a cool way to maintain the natural landscape.
We learned the treatment is called Organic Solutions: Probiotic Technologies for Waste Treatment. Basically, a mixture of (1) Photo Synthetic bacteria (2) yeast (3) Actinomycetes (4) Lactic Acid bacteria and (5) Fungi are reduced into a smooth-sweet organic mixture called OS-1. This mixture ferments for a while and is then added into the sewage as it is processed through the plant in a tank of water. The mixture is 100% non-toxic, eco-friendly and is made from local bacterias and plants. It is able to cut through the bacteria in the sewage and clean it so only safe water is left behind. Although OS-1 claims to cut down on odor (which I am sure it does...) it was difficult to not want to cover my face with my shirt. This organic material is also added to the solid waste at the dump. Pretty cool, huh?
The holding tanks for the OS-1 FABR (Fermentative Anaerobic Baffle Reactor)
The FABR mixing tank, just before it is tanked
Ramesh shows us what the OS-1 looks like before it is added to the water-sewage tank
It actually smelled really sweet, nearly like a Whiskey..
Ramesh buys two a week (for Rs. 88) and brings them to Sargur for the village sewage efforts
mmm, raw sewage
After the sewage, water, and OS-1 are mixed, they travel through this concrete shoot
The shoot leads here
There are actually several more (cleaning and testing) steps the water needs to go through before it is released back into the river/irrigation track
We did learn that fish are able to live in these holding tanks, which proves the safe oxygen level
After escaping the smells, Ramesh wanted to show us something else. He took us to the National Institute of Engineering in Mysore - and this actually ended up being the most inspiring part. We were able to tour the sustainability division, CREST (Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies). Here, the college is designing and building sustainable technologies: renewable energy systems for rural areas, biomass technologies, kitchen waste biogas plants, small cooking stoves, solar distillers/cookers, and more. Everything was so inspiring and amazing!
Solar Cooking Stove and Cooking Times
Electricity Alternatives for Rural Villages
"The best way to not draw water from our limited ground water supply is by using rain-water harvesting" - Ramesh
It really is a fascinating concept, and I think I am going to write one of my papers about it
The Kitchen-Waste Biogas Structure
From their brochure: "The kitchen waste compact biogas plant uses kitchen waste, which is daily scraps from household or industrial kitchens, to generate electricity in the form of biogas. The smallest unit consists of two PVC tanks of 1000Lts and generates 0.6 M3 of gas electricity everyday"
Ramesh explaining how it works
The pipe that runs gas-power back to the kitchen and the tanks that hold the kitchen waste
A parabolic solar cooker
A swing that powers an irrigation system
Sand collection tank for the rainwater harvesting system
Rainwater Harvesting is the process of collecting, storing and using the rainwater after it falls
TIPPY TAP!
"Is a simple device which will dispense a limited amount of water slowly and facilitate a thorough hand wash. It is made from an used plastic can and is locally fabricated. It can be relevant not only in schools, but in houses, offices, restaurants, temples or any open area where people gather."
It honestly is so cool.
Technologies that inspire.. or at least make you think.
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