Startup to manage waste in a city ward

Mangaluru: Mangala Resource Management Private Limited (MRMPL), a city-based startup associated with the Ramakrishna Math here, will be given the responsibility of managing waste in a ward of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), from July 1.
The seven-year contract of Antony Waste Handling Cell Private Limited (AWHCPL), to collect and transport waste from 60 wards of the city, ended in January. Further, the city corporation had extended the contract of AWHCPL for one more year, or till a new contract is awarded. At present, the AWHC is collecting and transporting approximately 380 tonnes of waste from the city every day.

In fact, the startup submitted a detailed project report (DPR) for solid waste management in 60 wards of Mangaluru city in December last year. They had offered to carry out door-to-door waste collection in all the 60 wards of the MCC, and also manage the waste scientifically in their cost-effective DPR. The city corporation has now decided to hand over the Mangaladevi ward in the city to the startup, to manage waste on a pilot basis.
Mayor Premanand Shetty told TOI that the city corporation has decided to hand over one ward to the startup on a pilot basis, and later their contract may be continued, based on their performance. “They will have to carry out door-to-door waste collection and transportation, and manage the waste scientifically. They will collect wet and dry waste, and convert the wet waste into manure. The city corporation’s burden on waste management in one ward will be reduced through the pilot project,” he added.
The startup, which was founded three years ago, has been successfully managing waste in several villages in undivided Dakshina Kannada, and many mega industries and institutions.
Dilraj Alva, managing director of MRMPL, said that an average of five tonnes of waste, including dry and wet waste, will be collected from the ward in a day. “We will use five vehicles, including four electric vehicles, to collect waste and transport the same. The whole process will be carried out as per the Swachh Mangaluru concept, under the guidance of Swami Ekagamyananda of Ramakrishna Math,” he added.