Community Aerobic composting Bin

(Thumburmoozhi model)
WASTE MANAGEMENT I KAVYA MADHU
 Introduction
• Aerobic composting is an eco friendly waste management system
used widely the world over. Biodegrading using aerobic composting
system has been successfully done by many scientists to handle
hatchery waste, livestock waste, meat waste and carcase waste.
Evolving a cost effective eco friendly aerobic system suitable for the
agro climatic conditions of the state of Kerala was the ultimate goal
and a new modified version of suitable aerobic degradation method
was also evolved in the process. This method is a solution for organic
waste management that is implemented in panchayats, corporation
and municipalities.
• Generally the windrow system of composting is considered most
effectice for indian conditions. However odour and public health
concerns.
• Eco bins/ Aero bins is a method of converting biodegradable waste to
compost which can be put to further use, with the help of aerobins.
• The aerobin is a ferrocement structure 4ft x 4ft x 4ft dimension which
is used for composting waste at community level with a maximum of
15 households.
 Construction
• The bin consists of a ferrocement frame, into which horizontal bars are Wire frame
inserted at a gap of 3 inches.
• The bars are kept upright with the help of fillers that help maintain this gap.
• Into the box, biodegradable waste is inserted with the help of wooden
frames, and layered with dry leaves.
• At the bottom of this box is a perforated drain for collecting leachate. The
liquid drains into a 6” PVC pipe which is later collected into a tank. In order
to facilitate drainage, there is an inward slope on the floor of the bin.
• The drain is covered in a wire mesh. Frame
• This entire setup is located in a roofed, well ventilated shed typically
located in an open area in a community.

Bars with Fillers

Perforated drain
Collecting
Leachate
 Working Leachate collected at the bottom of the tank can be diluted with
water at a ratio of 1:20, and used as fertiliser.
Obtained compost is mixed with soil and used as manure.
• Works on the principle of aerobic composting, which is An advantage is also the low probablity of methane production.
decomposition in the presence of oxygen
• Inoculum is a bacterial culture developed by KAU that help
in composting. Diluted Inoculum is 100 ml of stock
solution is diluted with 400 ml of water to form 500ml of
inoculum for daily use.
• Diluted inoculum is used in the composting process in
order to promote the growth of aerobic bacteria in the
composting process. About 70% of the box is left open in
order to account for ventilation.
• Equal layers of biodegradable waste and dry leaves are
added to the bins. The use of dry leaves is so that carbon
is provided for the composting process sheilds the bins
from house flies and absorbs excess moisture, aiding in
ventilation.
• The process leads to ammonia being production of CO2
and Ammonia. Heat produced during compost (70o)
destroys pathogens and no smell is produced as long as it
is kept well ventilated.
Src :http://ujwaldev.blogspot.com/2018/12/thumburmuzhy-model-
aerobic-composting.html
• Materials Needed • Based on the average humidity, wind speed and ambient
temperature, a 4 ft x 4ft x 4ft ferro-cement binwith airspace and
- Inoculum. grooves utilizing bacterial consortium from cow dung and carbon
source, from dry leaves, hay, straw and dry paper bits, worked well in
- Dry leaves- Dry leaves are important in daily all Kerala climatic zones with a roof to prevent rain water during
operations of Aerobic bin. monsoons. The layering system had also been modified so that
- Containers to store the dilute Inoculum. labour need is minimised, the core temperature maintained at 70
degree Celsius had a self-limiting cycle after the composting process
- Shovel to spread the biodegradable waste. was over.
- Big container to collect biodegradable waste and
dump it to the Aerobic Bin
- Containers to collect leachate from the Drainage pit
- Wooden square (3ft x 3ft) frame with height of 6
inches for measuring the height
of the layers.
- Safety gloves and mask.
Composition of Manure
• Non green livestock waste and hotel food waste were the main waste materials used in the study. The composition of the
samples tested in the Radio tracer laboratory of Kerala Agricultural University as presented in Table.
• The Nitrogen level in the samples varied depending on the type of livestock waste. The carbon nitrogen ratio was 20 to 30 :
1. (recommended value) The moisture percentage in the compost mixture falls between the ideal value of 50 to 60 per cent.
This value will vary with the type of organic waste and it needs further research.

The C:N ratio is a critical factor in composting to prevent both nitrogen robbing from the soil and conserving maximum
nitrogen in the compost.

Src :Thumburmuzhy’a new model developed for livestock waste aerobic composting - Francis Xavier
 Operation and Maintenance
• Bins have to be cleaned and leachate pipe cleared of • Last layer in aerobic bin will be 6 inches of dry leaves. Ideally 90 days
any blocks before waste is put inside. are required for the process of composting. During monsoon give
additional 15 to 30 days.
• Operator should wear gloves and mask for personal • The efficiency of the system is dependent on strict segregation of
protection. Even though there is no toxic gas or waste. Liquid content in food can be drained before depositing
pathogens are produced in Aerobic bin, it is advised • Check if any maggots came out through walls of aerobic bin. This can
to wear protective gears for personal safety and happen when there is moisture content in dry leaves or due to excess
hygiene. inoculum / cow dung mixture spraying.
• Waste can be deposted upto a maximum of six • Excess innoculum should not be used.
inches.
• In case there is not enough biodegradable waste to
fill the measurement frame, spray 150 ml of
inoculum as well as cover the biodegradable waste
and wooden measurement frame with jute sacks and
cardboard. This will avoid flies feeding on
biodegradable waste and eliminate foul smell.
• . The height of dump in aerobic bin will reduce once
lower layers start decomposing. Amount of compost
obtained from aerobic bin is directly related to how
fast bins are filled. On an average if 15 kg of waste is
deposited per day, then aerobic bin will be filled in a
month.
 Implementation
Thiruvananthapuram : 280 bins were provided in 25 wards in 2017,
many of which proved effective and free of odours. The units were
installed as part of corporation’s ‘My city, beautiful city’ project.
The capacity of one aerobic bin is 4X3 and it requires at least 2
• A typical facility may contain 2 - 6 such Aerobins, and tonne of waste to get filled.
one set is usually recommended for upto 15
households.
• The system has had success as an efficient and less
labour intensive system introduced in various districts
of Kerala, Palakkad and Alappuzha being among them.
• This is particularly relevant due to the prevalence of
small settlements that may not pay for door to door
collection of waste. This ensures that waste collection
can be managed within communities itself, even for
houses that do not have individual compost units.
• Example : In Alappuzha through technological
intervention, aerobic composting units were set up in
eight places specially for disposing biodegradable
waste. Through aerobic composting units nearly 1200
households are able to dispose their waste
scientifically. By seeing its effectiveness the remaining
households are also raising their voice to promote
scientific disposal of waste in their wards.
Case Study : Alappuzha
• The municipality set up 12 waste collection centres
with 165 Thumburmuzhi bins at public places and the
old waste dumping spots.
• Earlier there was opposition from local people
regarding odour concerns
• In response, municipality transformed one of the
biggest dump yards in the town and set up a batch of
bins inside tents. This came to be known as the WAT
SAN Park (Water and Sanitation Park). A garden was
set up next to the tent and the processed compost
from the bins was used in the garden. Soon, bio gas
plants were also installed.
• The employees maintaining the park cultivated
banana, vegetables and flowering plants which were
sold in the market to generate income.
90 days composting period.
• A collection time is fixed and about 10,000
households benefit from this system. Generated
compost is also distributed to farmers free of cost The cost of one plant was stimated at 2,00,000.
q References
1. ‘Thumburmuzhy’a model developed for livestock wasteaerobic composting aerobic composting - Francis Xavier, Girija.
D. Francis Xavier, Girija. D.*, Kurien. D.K Deepak Mathew. D.K Kerala Veterinary & Animal Science University ,Kerala,
India
2. WILLINGNESS TO PAY (WTP) FOR AEROBIC TREATMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE: A STUDY AT ALAPPUZHA, KERALA
- Dr. T Dhanalakshmi,Solid Waste Management Specialist, Reforms and Performance Management Cell, Alappuzha
District, Kerala
3. Shelter by HUDCO, October 2018 Volume 19 No . 2
4. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Community Aerobic composting Bin (Thumburmoozhi model), available at :
http://ww.thanal.co.in/
5. Thumburmuzhy Model Aerobic Composting Technique - December 09,
2018,http://ujwaldev.blogspot.com/2018/12/thumburmuzhy-model-aerobic-composting.html