Corpn to deploy agency to process Madurai city’s meat waste

Madurai: Madurai is known for its meat-based dishes, but the city corporation has for long been struggling to handle meat waste. To address the issue, Madurai corporation is planning to engage a private agency to collect meat waste directly from shops and process it into manure.Thirumangalam municipality has already started a similar project with a private firm on a pilot basis. "Currently, we divert organic waste to micro-composting centres, but meat waste remains untreated. The plan is to appoint a private agency that will operate a route chart covering all five zones, collect waste directly from meat shops, and process it into manure," a senior corporation official said. The agency will also sell the manure on its own, for which the corporation will not levy any charges, he said.The move is expected to reduce tonnage of waste collected by the private firm already contracted to handle solid waste management in the city. "This will push them to focus more on collecting other waste from households and commercial establishments," the official added.To strengthen waste management, the corporation increased deployment of sanitary workers, particularly in areas where meat-based dumping is frequent. Meat shop owners were sensitised not to dispose of waste in public places, and penalties for violations were increased. Additionally, the corporation plans to use technology to check illegal dumping. "We identified spots along Vaigai river where waste is frequently dumped. In the coming months, AI-based surveillance cameras will be installed to monitor such locations," the official said.At present, meat waste collected in the city is transported to Vellaikal dump yard, where it adds to the burden of legacy waste. Officials believe that once the new system is implemented, the waste will be recycled instantly, thereby reducing the load on landfills. In Thirumangalam, the pilot project began with the agency drawing up a list of meat shops and preparing a collection chart. Madurai corporation officials expect the initiative to deliver similar results and ease one of the city's most persistent waste management issues.

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