By Divina Pereira (Student of Post-Grad in Journalism, class of 2014-2015)
A combination of passion, creativity, and entrepreneurial skills can churn out amazing results. This is exactly what seems to be happening ever since Natasha D’Costa and Christopher Pereira began the Dirt Store in Bandra three months ago in June.The eponymously named establishment showcases articles made out of waste. Natasha up-cycles – she makes benches, planters and lights from plastic bottles. Their main effort, however, is to encourage people to compost – which means to store organic matter (leftovers from food and other wet waste) and turn it into natural fertilizers for plants.A compost bin at the Dirt Store stands on a pivot. There are holes at the top and the base. It needs to be filled with biodegradable waste which includes waste from food and other kinds of domestic waste.
Plastic, tetra packs and glass aren’t allowed. Paper, dry leaves and other forms of dry waste are allowed, because these still comprise organic waste, made out of living things. They are added to cut down on or prevent the odours given off when the bacteria that turns waste into composted “gold” are busy working! The bin is rotated on its pivot once a day. In a month, you have accomplished what you set out to do, get your own supply of rich earth that can be used to grow plants.The compost bin has a capacity of about 80 litres – enough for about eight to ten families. One family approximately produces an average of 1 kg of wet waste a day. In a month 10 families would produce 300 kg. Yet, one bin suffices.This is because 90% of food (and food waste) comprises of air and water. The holes at the top and bottom of the drum help in aerating the compost and also in removing excess water.
Finally, what is left in the bin is around 10% of the starting load. At the end of the month, you get about 30 kg of compost.According to Natasha, compost is sold by florists at Rs 30 – Rs 50 per kg. “Think about it, you are actually buying someone else’s waste. So why not do it yourself at home. By doing your own composting, you will get very good quality plants and vegetables from your own food waste,” she says.The store sells one compost unit for Rs 8,000. This includes two drums (for around 20 families) of 80 litres each, and a pivot. The cost also includes training for the families and visits to the site till the first batch of compost is completed. Compost bins for a family of four are also available for Rs 1,000. “This way you don’t throw out anything!” she says.
The response has been good.“We work with quite a few schools and institutions like St. Stanislaus, St. Aloysius, St. Xavier’s, Don Bosco, Matunga, and housing societies in Bandra like Nirmala Colony and Le Papillon”, says Natasha, adding ,“We have asked some bhajiwalla to give us their waste.”So why aren’t more people doing it? “A lot of people assume that if they are going to compost, then there will be a stink,” she responds. Christopher says, “It is as simple and as do-able as breathing.”Then he points out that housing societies in Pune and Bangalore get a 5% tax break each for incorporating compost, rainwater and sewage treatment systems on their premises. In contrast, no such benefits are available from the BMC, he says..The Dirt Store is situated in Belvedere, House No. 18, Rebello Road, Bandra (W).
