With urban waste posing a huge threat to the economy and environment, the Government on Tuesday called upon the corporate and industrial and trade bodies to provide effective solutions to turn municipal waste into useful resources such as energy and fertiliser.
Addressing the ‘Waste to Energy’ Conference organised by the ASSOCHAM in the Capital, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday stressed for a concerted action to recycle urban solid waste and sewage for converting them into energy, fuel, fertilizers and irrigation water.
He stressed on ‘reduction, recycling and reuse’ of solid waste and sewage and said that his Ministry was identifying domestic and foreign companies who can provide cost effective solutions for solid waste and sewage management through reduction, recycling and reuse.
The Minister underlined that these two issues have been accorded priority under all new urban development initiatives like Swachchh Bharat mission, Smart Cities, Infrastructure development in 500 citites, Heritage City Development etc.
Naidu pointed out that 1,33,000 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste is being generated every day in Class-I and II cities out of which 32 per cent is being littered. Of the total waste being collected, 72 per cent (6,55,000 metric tonnes) is being landfilled.
Asking the corporate and trade bodies to ‘walk the talk’ by partnering with the Government in ensuring cleanliness and waste management in urban areas, he further said that through proper collection and reuse and recycling of solid waste, 440 MW of power can be generated every year and consumption of chemical fertilizers can be reduced by 30 per cent by using compost made out of solid waste from urban areas.
Naidu said that refused derived fuel is another potential solution for treatment of solid waste which is comparable to coal in terms of costs and calorific value. Stating that about 38,500 million litres of sewage is being generated per day by Class-I and II cities, Naidu said effective recycling of it would help in irrigating about one to three lakh hectares depending on the crop. He expressed concern over discharge of about 61 per cent of sewage without being treated.