Almost three months after launching a new waste management system, Aluva municipality is expanding its partnership with the private sector. The Robobin facility helps those who cannot treat their waste at home. It charges ₹7 per kilogram to process biodegradable waste. Residents get bins to store waste, which a private partner collects and takes to the processing booth at Mahatma Gandhi Town Hall. The waste is turned into compost automatically at the booth, which can handle up to one tonne daily. Since opening on October 16, 2025, the municipality has earned ₹39,000 and aims to make around ₹4 lakh in the next three months. From the ₹7 charged, the municipality keeps ₹2, and the private operator gets ₹5. Over 1,050 households have subscribed. Municipal Chairperson Saiji Jolly said, "Though biobins have been provided to almost all households to enable them to treat organic waste on their own, not everyone is able to use them properly for various reasons. The Robobin facility was introduced to address this gap and has been gaining traction among the public. Non-biodegradable waste, including plastic, is meanwhile collected by the Haritha Karma Sena." The council plans to install a similar booth at the town's mini market. However, the two-tonne facility there has yet to attract users. Shibu Vijayavedam, founder of the startup behind Robobin, said the system fights the idea that waste treatment must happen far from view. "Our booth is designed in a sophisticated manner, and the trays used for waste disposal clean themselves after every use. We also aim to inculcate the habit of handling waste in a dignified manner," he added.