Mumbai finds novel way to convert waste into fuel pallets and bricks

The civic administration in Mumbai is reported to have started a novel project to convert part of the huge waste the city produces everyday into useful bricks and fuel pallets. Started on a public-partnership (PPP) model, the pilot project is capable of producing around 10 tonnes of fuel pellets and bricks, says a report in the DNA newspaper.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started processing green waste for making fuel pallets and bricks with help from a local outfit - Chanakya Institute of Public Leadership.

BMC had leased out a 1,000 sq m plot near Ashok Silk Mills on LBS Marg in Ghatkopar to operate the first pilot project for converting the green waste into fuel pellets and bricks. The project has turned out to a success as it currently produces around 10 tonnes of fuel pallets and bricks, says the report.

Mumbai's first innovative approach to manage green waste of the city, the pilot plant processes 16 tonnes of green waste and sells the fuel pellets and bricks so produced to industrial and household consumers.

BMC plans to start similar units at various civic zone so that waste processing can be localised, saving in transportation of waste. Also, production of bricks and fuel pellets from processed green waste is cheap as it involves no raw material cost.

The project is also in line with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan's objective of localisation of waste management. It would also give a new direction to waste management in other municipal corporations as well.

For BMC, which is under tremendous pressure in handling huge waste generated by the city, the new project will be a great blessing.

Its tree dumping grounds are already busting at seems – the Deonar dumping ground has already crossed the saturation level and Mulund dumping ground is on verge of closure while Kanjurmarg dumping ground currently handles 3,300 tonnes of waste daily. These set the limits for Mumbai's present waste management.

BMC is now looking for waste disposal grounds beyond the city limits like in Talegaon. However, transportation cost of the lifting waste from Mumbai and dumping at Talegaon will be huge.