Kerala - Kochi   

Proposal for garbage plant gathering dust

KOCHI: With the authorities on the look out for all possible solutions to tide over the problem of waste in Kochi city, a proposal for a solid waste treatment plant submitted by a Malayali scientist working with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Hyderabad is gathering dust.

The proposal by Johny Joseph conceived a commercially viable waste treatment plant based on high rate biomethanation technology (biomethanation is the process of conversion of organic matter in the waste to biomethane, sometimes referred to as biogas, and manure by microbial action in the absence of air known as ‘anaerobic digestion’) coupled with suitable downstream steps.

Mr. Joseph said he had forwarded the proposal to Chief Minster V.S. Achuthanandan, Minister for Local Self-Government Paloli Mohammed Kutty, the Kochi Corporation and the district administration months ago, but received no response.

He said that a plant set up under similar technology had already been commissioned at the Agricultural University in Hyderabad.

Mr. Joseph said the plant could be operated with minimum manual inputs, while at the same time ensured it a completely odour-free treatment of waste with zero water consumption.

The proposal suggested that except anaerobic digestion (biogas production) all other methods employed for solid waste treatment were either energy intensive, generated secondary effluents or led to emission problems.

The anaerobic digesters currently employed for solid waste treatment are classified as conventional and high rate digesters. While the former is a slow rate digester with long hydraulic retention time (HRT) the latter minimises HRT and ensures increased production of biogas.

The major highlight of the proposed plant is a specially-designed high-rate digester, which is designed to receive unsorted raw waste containing biodegradable and non-biodegradable components directly from the conveyor. Biodegradable waste undergoes digestion and generates biogas. Provisions to recover floating materials from the digester are also there.

The capacity of the plant could be scaled up to 100 tonnes a day or more. The technology can be utilised for small or medium-sized plants. A rough estimate pegs the total capital cost for the proposed plant, including the cost of plant and machinery and land and building, at Rs.10 crore, while the estimated working capital is Rs.2.6 crore.

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