Following a fire that erupted at the Vendipalayam yard The civic body on Thursday devised a plan for better solid waste management at Vendipalayam by involving a Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) expert. Of the daily generation of close to 300 tonnes of garbage in the city limits, 250 tonnes are being dumped at Vendipalayam. The rest is disposed at the Vairapalayam yard. The Corporation’s efforts for better solid waste management come in the wake of a fire that erupted at the yard. Over the last two days, the Corporation authorities are involved in extinguishing the fire. Such fires are not unusual during the peak of summer due to methanisation process, a Corporation official said. The Corporation’s effort to improve its solid waste management in the long run was discussed at a meeting with J. Daniel Chellappa, Technology Coordination Wing, BARC, Chennai. Dr. Daniel Chellappa explained the advantages in simultaneous bio mining whereby, he said, the biodegradable materials could be converted into inert waste for hassle-free handling of the materials by conservancy workers without fear of biological contamination. The unsegregated wastes when treated with suitable cultures suiting the climatic condition transforms into inert waste in six months to one year. Such materials could be used as landfills. Continuity in conversion of one part of the garbage into manure and methane gas could be maintained for revenue generation. Considering that one tonne of garbage yields 100 units of electricity or two to three cylinders of methane, environment-friendly conversion of 100 tonnes of garbage would generate substantial revenue, Dr. Chellappa explained.