The Solid and Liquid Resource Management (SLRM) Centres, launched by the district administration to make Udupi a ‘garbage-free district,’ will be extended to another 20 gram panchayats (GPs) in the district in about four months.

The centres are already functioning in 49 GPs out of a total of 158 in the district.

Of the 49 GPs, the waste was being collected twice a day by local self-help groups in 24 GPs. But concerning houses in remote areas, the waste was being collected once a day.

The organic waste was being converted into manure, while inorganic waste was being separated and sold. Three SLRM centres at Vandse, Kollur, and Hebri Gram Panchayats have already become self-sustaining units.

Waste was being collected once a week in another 25 GPs and it will be gradually done daily in these GPs also.

“In the last year-and-a-half, about 1,200 tonnes of waste had been recycled. This had generated a total revenue of ₹20 lakh for the GPs. About 200 persons had got jobs due to the SLRM centres,” said Srinivas Rao, Chief Planning Officer, Zilla Panchayat.

A SLRM Centre was also opened at the District Government Hospital and at the District Offices Complex here.

The general waste or garbage from the District Government Hospital, District AYUSH Hospital, and nearby health offices such as District Health Office, Taluk Health Office, District TB Office, District Disease Surveillance Office, was being supplied to the Government Hospital SLRM Centre here.

Madhusudhan Nayak, District Surgeon, said that nearly 700 to 800 kg of general waste was generated in a month from the hospitals and health offices and supplied to the SLRM Centre.

“The SLRM Centre has proved useful as it has reduced our dependence on the municipality to clear the garbage,” he said.