Old age homes, which did not exist in any serious number in India, have multiplied many times in the last couple of decades.  This is mainly due to:

• Abolition of the joint family system
• Both spouses working
• Full-fledged all-care providing homes that have sprung up in good numbers
• Old couples having no children to look after them
• Better nursing and medical facilities made available by the homes

The practice of sending senior citizens, especially with terminal illnesses, to homes was in vogue in Europe and in the United States, but in India this practice has started even without any illness issue mainly because of the inability of the sons and daughters-in-law to look after their aged parents, as the couple are busy with their own work.  Even children are left in a crèche for 8 to 10 hours a day.

Old age homes generate several types of wastes including:

• food waste
• packaging waste
• bottles and cans
• papers
• worn clothing
• baskets, bags, etc.
• diapers

If there are any medical wastes generated, they are very minimal, basically first aid or bandages.

Due to poor bladder control, senior citizens are forced to wear diapers which need to be disposed of properly and not just thrown away with the other garbage.

Most of the old age homes are situated away from towns and cities and therefore it makes sense if they have their own in-house incinerator for disposal of used diapers.

The incinerator that is most suitable is Haat’s model GD with its two chamber, single burner design.  A diesel tank and control panel along with the incinerator are mounted on a single skid, making it easily portable.  The operator requires only minimal training in operation and maintenance as it does not require any special installation work and can be operated practically automatically with only waste requiring to be loaded and ash removed when the system is cold.

Haat has supplied quite a few GD model incinerators for this application in India and abroad. 

Every one of the users is happy with the GD design and some of the users have asked for the same model incinerator after more than 18 years of use!

Just goes to show that the right product for the right application with good quality and durability makes a lot of sense, all with a small investment!