University of Pune forced to close down compost pits

With its vermi-compost pits completely filled up, the University of Pune (UoP) has been forced to close them down. The ecological fallout of this has been that wet garbage generated on the campus is being burned at times.

On other occasions, it is being disposed off in Pune Municipal Corporation’s garbage vans.

Spread over 400 acres of land, the varsity produces nearly one metric tonne of waste per month. The composting plant was started in 2008. However, it stopped functioning four months ago.

When asked, executive engineer R V Patil, head of the estate department, feigned ignorance about garbage being burnt on the campus. He said, “There may have been a stray incident. We dispose it off in PMC vans. Nearly 100 kg of compost is generated daily.”

He said, “We segregate the garbage with assistance from NGO SWaCH. Plastic and other saleable items are taken away by the NGO, while the rest is treated on the campus. We have around 24 pits for composting wet garbage.”

When asked pointedly about the vermi-compost pits being closed down since the last few months, Patil replied, “The project has stopped functioning due to water leakage.”

The said leakage was caused last monsoon. Patil said, “We are constructing a new tin roof to maintain the right climatic conditions for the worms in the pits. As per the policy, the compost has to be given to various departments on the campus.  However, there has been no demand from any of the 52 departments at present. We cannot sell the compost.”