Trichy corporation identifies site for poultry waste recycling plant

Trichy: Trichy corporation plans to set up a poultry waste recycling unit inside the Ariyamangalam dump yard with the help of private firm. While finalising the site for the unit recently, the civic body said it will prevent illegal disposal of chicken waste in vacant space and waterbodies, a key factor contributing to the stray dog menace.
The meat shops in the city on average generate around 30-40 MT of chicken waste daily. At present, a private recycling agency from Pudukkottai collects the waste and transport it to a recycling unit in Tirunelveli.
However, in the wake of the medical waste dumping controversy in southern districts, the operator has been facing challenges in handling the chicken waste. So, Trichy corporation has decided to construct a recycling facility for chicken waste on around 8,000sqft of land in the Ariyamangalam dump yard.
The civic body will collect a rent of 56,000 per month from the agency which will develop the recycling unit. "The operator will not accumulate waste so that odour will not trouble nearby residential settlements. The waste will be ground into pellets to be used as a feed in inland fish farms," city health officer M Vijay Chandran told TOI.
Earlier, locals supported by DMK and CPM councillors expressed fear over odour from the chicken waste disposal unit affecting their quality of life. "Why should all waste management infrastructure come up at Ariyamangalam, the authorities can find suitable spots on the outskirts of the city," said CPM councillor S Suresh.
Corporation sources said if required an odour removal unit similar to the one installed at the Khajamalai decanting station can be set up at the chicken waste recycling unit too. Officials reiterated the harmful effects of illegal dumping of chicken waste and the resulting menace of stray dogs in the disposal areas.