The BBMP may go slow on implementing segregation of waste at source which was made mandatory. It is now planning a mixed-waste garbage processing plant for Bangalore.
Addressing a press conference after visiting the Hanjer Biotech Energies Pvt Ltd plant at Salem, Tamil Nadu, Mayor B S Sathyanarayana said the plant in Salem took mixed waste to generate compost as well as other byproducts like refuse-derived fuel (RDF). The same technology will be put to use in the plant that will be set up by the company in Bangalore in the next one-and-a-half years. “We will bring it to the notice of the Karnataka High Court. The technology will help BBMP save money on setting up dry waste collection centres and other segregation units,” he said.
The Mayor was accompanied by District in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy, BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana as well as BBMP councillors and officials.
But Lakshminarayana seemed keen on implementing the waste segregation rule. According to him, “Segregation at source will be a long-term solution to the garbage crisis.”
The unit at Salem converts waste into RDF (45 per cent), plastic ingots or granules (25-30 per cent), compost (6 per cent) and inerts (15 percent). The inerts are dumped in landfills.
The company sells compost to fertilizer dealers at Rs 120 per bag containing 50 kilo of compost, RDF to power manufacturing companies, plastic granules to cement and plastic manufacturing companies.
BBMP has awarded a tender to this company to set up a unit to process 800 tonnes of waste in Rajajinagar. Company director Nadeem Furniturewala said they had already submitted plans and were awaiting an approval from the civic agency.
“BBMP has to build a compound wall around the land. It will take 12 months for us to start the processing work and another six months to run it on trial,” he said