Delhi civic agencies turn to composters as landfills choke up
In a pilot project, Delhi’s civic agencies will install mini ‘accelerated composters’ in community parks, nurseries and housing colonies for the instant conversion of wet waste, collected from homes and colonies, into compost.
The three civic agencies — north, south and east Delhi municipal corporations — have awarded tenders for the supply, installation and operation of 20 accelerated waste composters. Each has a capacity to take one tonne of garbage every day.
“The time limit for completing the project is three months. If successful, we will cover all localities in our jurisdiction by the next 18-24 months,” said Arun Kumar, superintending engineer, East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).
The East Corporation generates 2,600-2,700 metric tonnes of solid waste every day. Of this, 50-55% consists of biodegradable waste. The north and south corporations generate 4,000 and 3,600 metric tonnes respectively every day.
Most of this waste is sent to a landfill. Civic officials say only a small percentage is segregated and converted into compost at the landfill. Within the next three months, the machines will start working at neighbourhood parks and nurseries.
“Unlike the conventional aerobic composting method, which converts waste into manure in 35-40 days, these new machines — container-based plants — will complete the cycle in 14-15 days,” said a senior South Corporation official.
“During these 15 days, each machine will consume one tonne of wet waste every day, which is not the case with aerobic composting. We have plans to install one or two plants near some societies in Dwarka,
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which generate more than one tonne of garbage,” said the official. Experts said the technology will work efficiently when segregation is done properly.
“It’s a welcome initiative, when we take into consideration that space is a major constraint. But the civic agencies have to create a system or make enough arrangements for the segregation of waste at the micro level (homes and localities) and ensure that no other form of waste is mixed with the biodegradable one,” said Swati Sambyal, programme manager, environmental governance (municipal solid waste), Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi.
Apart from the 20 accelerated composters, Delhi’s civic agencies are also in the process of buying 14 biomethanation plants, each with the capacity to treat five tonnes of waste every day. These plants will be installed at vacant spaces in residential areas.
Civic agency officials said they have started this project because three of the city’s four landfills are filled to their capacity.
In September last year, a portion of the Ghazipur landfill, which had exhausted its lifespan 15 years ago, collapsed and killed two persons.
“Since three out of four landfills — Okhla, Ghazipur and Bhalswa — are already saturated, there has been pressure to look for alternative arrangements.
“Last year, the MCD had launched projects with NGOs to set up aerobic composting pits in parks and dhalaos but, due to the paucity of space and resistance from locals, it was difficult to take up the project at a mass level. These plants are covered and release no foul smell,” said an official from EDMC.
CIVIC AGENCIES HAVE AWARDED TENDERS FOR 20 ACCELERATED WASTE COMPOSTERS IN HOUSING COLONIES ACROSS THE CITY