Apartment complex in Bengaluru revamps organic waste converter, goes zero-waste | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: Brigade Meadows, a residential complex with 1,876 flats on Kanakapura Road in south Bengaluru, has successfully completed the renovation of its organic waste converter (OWC). This upgrade allows the complex to process all of its wet waste on-site, marking a significant step toward sustainable living.The upgraded OWC features a dewatering and shredding machine that can process up to 250kg of food waste per hour. Its main functions are to shred food waste and remove 70-80% of its moisture before composting, reducing overall waste volume by nearly half and cutting odours by about 80%. Composting occurs in five pits, each with an approximate capacity of four tonnes, and the system is expected to yield about 30% compost output.This compost will be used on nearly 10 acres of garden space within the 27-acre campus, with plans to sell any surplus through partnerships with local nurseries. The complex generates around 750kg wet food waste daily, a figure that increases during weekends and festivals.The previous waste management system, installed in 2015, became non-functional by 2019 due to cracks in the composting pits, poor segregation, and plastic contamination. Consequently, the apartment owners’ association relied on external vendors and panchayat collection, leading to frequent complaints about garbage accumulation and foul odours.A turning point came at the last general body meeting of the association when residents unanimously approved the OWC revamp. Subsequently, an in-house focus committee was formed to advance the project. The committee identified gaps in the existing system, visited other apartment complexes for best practices, and consulted experts to create a robust, cost-effective solution.Shreeramana Bhat, an executive committee member of the association, said, “The earlier system completely broke down. With 1,876 flats generating nearly 750kg wet waste daily, relying on vendors and panchayat collection was no longer sustainable. The residents’ complaints and compliance pressures made it clear that we had to address waste at the source.”The funding of approximately Rs 15–20 lakh was allocated from the association’s maintenance corpus, with technical support from Pelican Kenterra Waste Management Solutions and the Bangalore Apartments Federation.Alongside the upgrade, the association launched awareness campaigns to promote three-way segregation and the two-bin-one-bag system for waste separation. This initiative aims to ensure waste does not become a garbage hotspot on city roads while improving hygiene, sustainability, and self-reliance within the complex.Kiran Hebbar, treasurer of Bangalore Apartments’ Federation, remarked, “By revamping OWC, we are transforming waste into a resource and taking a clear step toward a greener tomorrow.”