Waste conversion
Hubballi
The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) is turning coconut fronds, often seen as waste, into useful brooms and fertiliser, creating both an eco-friendly solution and an income opportunity for local residents. Coconut trees on private and government lands in the city produce large numbers of fronds, which have traditionally posed disposal challenges.
Under the initiative, Solid Waste Management (SWM) engineers have trained two pourakarmikas, Kalavati Kattimani and Vijayalaxmi Sakennavar, to make brooms from coconut fronds. These trained workers will conduct further training sessions for Self Help Group (SHG) members registered under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM). The HDMC plans to purchase brooms made by SHG members and distribute them to all pourakarmikas in the twin cities, ensuring maximum utilisation of the fronds. Excess fronds will be converted into vermicompost, enriching soil and supporting sustainable urban agriculture.
Santoshkumar Yarangali, Executive Engineer, SWM, said, “This initiative was launched under the guidance of National Green Tribunal State Committee Chairman Justice Subhash Adi and HDMC Commissioner Rudresh Ghali. Reusing coconut fronds not only reduces waste but also provides an income source for SHG members.”
Dr Sanjeev Kulkarni, a gynaecologist-turned-environmentalist supporting the project, shared, “We have about 20 guntas of land in Malamaddi, Dharwad, where banana leaf waste was repurposed for compost. Seeing our work, HDMC approached us to help make brooms from coconut fronds. We are providing space for production and will be among the first to buy the brooms. Scaling this to SHG members can benefit the entire community.”
The project reflects HDMC’s commitment to waste management innovation, sustainability, and community livelihood enhancement in Hubballi-Dharwad.
