Udupi: A mini material recovery facility (MRF) at Kadoor in Brahmavar taluk is emerging as a model for decentralised yet systematic solid-waste management (SWM), with dry waste from 15 gram panchayats being brought to the facility since the past three months for scientific sorting and processing.Developed under the Swachh Bharat Mission with the guidance of Udupi zilla panchayat, the facility at Moodubettu in Nadoor is equipped with machinery worth over Rs 40 lakh. It has a processing capacity of five tonnes a day and currently handles around three tonnes.The initiative builds on solid-resource management experiments undertaken by Kadoor and Nadoor villages since 2018. Public participation, involvement of elected representatives and support from officials have helped expand the model to neighbouring gram panchayats.Waste from Kadoor, Heggunje, Avarse, Neelavar and Vaddarse has already been cleared and processed, while work involving the remaining panchayats is under way. The facility has also created employment for more than 20 local residents. An evening shift, starting at 5.30pm, has been introduced to increase its operational capacity.More than 50 categories of waste, including plastic, cardboard, iron and different types of bottles, are sorted and processed at the unit. The machinery-enabled sorting and baling system reduces the time and space required for handling waste and prepares recyclable material for sale.Brahmavar taluk panchayat assistant director Mahesh K said officials and representatives from several districts and states had visited the facility to study its functioning. “New experiments in waste management are also being undertaken,” he said.The facility is supervised by the Swachhabandhu Waste Management Cooperative Society, while the Durga Sanjeevini Women’s Federation of Kadoor manages its operations. Women’s group members are directly involved in waste processing, making community participation a key component of the initiative.The MRF requires up to Rs 3.5 lakh a month to operate. Each of the 15 gram panchayats has been asked to contribute Rs 20,000 a month towards its maintenance. During the initial phase, the sale of recovered material generated upto Rs 1.5 lakh, offering a potential revenue stream for the facility.Udupi ZP CEO Prateek Bayal said ensuring the sustainable operation of MRF units was a priority. Plans were being prepared to provide modern facilities for refuse-derived fuel management at the Kadoor and Yellur units, he said.Facility supervisor Mamatha said trained personnel were working at the unit and efforts would be made to increase the daily volume of waste sorted and baled.BOXFacility at a glanceGram panchayats covered: 15Installed capacity: 5 tonnes a dayCurrent processing: 3 tonnes a dayEmployment: More than 20 peopleMachinery investment: Rs 40 lakh( Aprrox)Monthly operating cost: Rs 3.5 lakh (Approx)
