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New Delhi : The changing ecological scenarios requires special attention to address the issue of ‘Sustainable Processing of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). This is not only a necessary component of converting waste into useful end products but also to maintain a cleaner environment and safeguard contamination of soil, air and water.
To throw more light on the subject, Prof. (Dr.) Harish Hirani, Director, CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur, deliberated on the issue in his Keynote address at programme ‘Krishi Jagran’, live-streamed on its Facebook Page on October 17, 2020. He charted out the historical development of traditional Waste Processing Techniques and demonstrated how the present scenario demands special customised attention towards the processing of Municipal Solid Wastes.
Prof. Hirani said, “Ineffective processing of Wastes are the root of all diseases as the dumped Landfills become the Contamination Hubs for Pathogens, Bacteria and Viruses. Besides, they also become the cauldron for emission of Methane Gas, especially during the churning mechanisms deployed during Composting processes. Composting also does not yield impactful economic returns for the entrepreneurs. The mixed nature of wastes in the current scenario can easily lead to infiltration of heavy metals into agricultural produce, through the indiscriminate creation of Composts.”
“The CSIR-CMERI developed Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility has not only helped achieving Decentralised Decimation of Solid Wastes, but has also helped create value-added end-products from abundantly available redundant stuffs such as Dry Leaves, Dry Grass etc. The primary focus of CSIR-CMERI is to unburden the common households from the segregation responsibilities through Advanced Segregation techniques. The Bio-Digestion process adopted has minimum pollution factor. The MSW facility has been equipped with special capabilities to deal with a diverse range of waste including Masks, Sanitary Napkins, Diapers etc. The MSW facility has been equipped with special disinfection capabilities to help break the COVID Chain through UV-C Lights and Hot-Air Convection methods. We have also achieved optimum Energy Sufficiency in the MSW facility by adding the Solar energy technology, which can also feed the surplus Energy Supply onto a Mini-Grid,” said Prof Hirani.
Decentralised Waste Management technology developed by CSIR-CMERI can result in drastic reduction of expenditure related to Transportation Logistics and reductions in CO2 emissions, by reducing fossil fuel usage, he said. The Scientifically Decentralised Waste Processing Hubs will help multiply outreach for various locations and will also boost the manufacturing potential for the residents of the region. “This CSIR-CMERI MSW Technology envisions a Zero-Landfill and a Zero Waste City in addition to developing job creation opportunities. This technology will also help create a revived Green Energy reliant India,” Prof Hirani added, according to a PIB release.
The Institute developed Solid Waste Disposal using Plasma Arc converting wastes into plasma state for proper disposal. The residue generated having good carbon content are used in agriculture as fertiliser and non-usable are utilised to make bricks for construction purposes. Thus, it is creating wealth out of wastes through use of science. The technology pertains to the period 2013-16 and has some cost constraints. Thus, another solution provided by CSIR-CMERI, which is more cost effective, is Mechanised Segregation Process. Towards targeting a Zero landfill, the latest technology being used by Institute is Pyrolysis process wherein conversion of plastics into gas and fuel are done.