IIMC Dhenkanal Visit To Wealth Centre: Waste-To-Wealth Model In Action
Siddhi Dharmadhikari | Sep 29, 2025, 15:34 IST
A group of IIMC Dhenkanal students delved into the intricacies of the city's waste management initiatives. Their journey took them to the Wealth Centre and the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant, where specialists provided insights on efficient waste segregation. They learned how biodegradable materials are transformed into nutrient-rich compost, while non-recyclable plastics play a vital role in cement production.
Dhenkanal: The Indian Institute Of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, organised a visit to the Wealth Centre, Dhenkanal, on Friday. As part of Swacchotsav 2025, the visit gave students an opportunity to understand the city's waste management system.
Under Dhenkanal Municipality, the Wealth Centre and Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) receive both commercial and domestic waste from the city.
Explaining the process at the Wealth Centre, a sanitation expert Soubhagya Ranjan Mallik described the stages of segregation. "A conveyor belt separates plastic from biodegradable waste. The wet waste is later treated to make compost, which usually takes 42 days. Non-biodegradable plastic, which cannot be recycled, is sent for the production of cement bags."
Once the compost is formed, it is sold to farmers for agricultural and horticultural use. The centre also uses a Bailing machine to compress large cardboard sheets for easier transportation. The Wealth Centre is operated by 55 male employees, including five from the transgender community.
The FSTP follows a circular economy model, with a focus on sustainability and a zero-waste policy.
Technology researcher Chandrakanti Swain explained that solid and liquid waste undergo parallel, gravity-based processes. "The waste is segregated and sectioned accordingly. The liquid then settles and is sent into a stabilisation reactor to transform into sludge. The sludge is transferred to a drying bed, while the liquid waste continues its process separately." Swain added.
"The sludge is then dried with UV rays that allow sunlight to pass through. Manually, the sludge is moved into a pasteurizing unit where, at 180°C, it gets converted into manure to enrich soil," Mallik informed further.
Meanwhile, the treated water, once disinfected, is reused for washing vehicles and gardening, reinforcing the zero-waste approach.
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Under Dhenkanal Municipality, the Wealth Centre and Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) receive both commercial and domestic waste from the city.
Explaining the process at the Wealth Centre, a sanitation expert Soubhagya Ranjan Mallik described the stages of segregation. "A conveyor belt separates plastic from biodegradable waste. The wet waste is later treated to make compost, which usually takes 42 days. Non-biodegradable plastic, which cannot be recycled, is sent for the production of cement bags."
Once the compost is formed, it is sold to farmers for agricultural and horticultural use. The centre also uses a Bailing machine to compress large cardboard sheets for easier transportation. The Wealth Centre is operated by 55 male employees, including five from the transgender community.
The FSTP follows a circular economy model, with a focus on sustainability and a zero-waste policy.
Technology researcher Chandrakanti Swain explained that solid and liquid waste undergo parallel, gravity-based processes. "The waste is segregated and sectioned accordingly. The liquid then settles and is sent into a stabilisation reactor to transform into sludge. The sludge is transferred to a drying bed, while the liquid waste continues its process separately." Swain added.
"The sludge is then dried with UV rays that allow sunlight to pass through. Manually, the sludge is moved into a pasteurizing unit where, at 180°C, it gets converted into manure to enrich soil," Mallik informed further.
Meanwhile, the treated water, once disinfected, is reused for washing vehicles and gardening, reinforcing the zero-waste approach.
wealth centre