New Delhi: PWD has started setting up compost pits across Delhi for the seasonal surge in green waste after post-monsoon pruning because trimmed branches and leaves have to be managed sustainably, officials said.The initiative comes as the department sets off on a large-scale cleanup following numerous complaints from residents about overgrown and unkempt trees.“Late Oct is the peak pruning period. After the monsoon, trees and shrubs grow thick, and large-scale trimming is needed to clear branches hanging over roads, traffic lights and wires. This generates huge quantities of green and dry waste, along with the falling of leaves,” an official said.The department has earmarked over Rs 1.5 crore for setting up compost systems and allocated Rs 82.24 lakh to the east, south and north divisions. The waste will not be burnt as it worsens Delhi’s already poor air quality.Two sites have been finalised for installation of the pits — Lajwanti Flyover and RTR Marg Nursery. Under the plan, PWD will bring in the tree branches, leaves, cut grass and other green waste to the sites.Each site will have a shredder machine with the capacity to chop 2 tonnes a day. There will be compost screening equipment that can deal with 1,000 kg a day, and a digital weighing balance of 100 kg capacity. The composting process will involve shredding the waste, mixing it with bio-culture to speed up decomposition, screening the compost to separate fine and coarse materials, and packing the ready compost.Any residual wood waste not suitable for composting will be transported to cremation centres or dumping sites in Delhi-NCR, as directed by the officer in charge.
