The Times of India 24.08.2009
Delhi is top garbage producer
Delhi is the highest municipal solid waste producer in the country followed by Mumbai, says a survey by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Delhi produces 6,800 tonnes of solid waste a day, while Mumbai generates 6,500 tonnes but in the absence of scientific management facilities these cities were dumping the wastes in landfill sites, says the survey that covered 22 cities across the country.
Mumbai sends 100 per cent of its waste to dumping sites followed by Delhi's 94 per cent, the survey revealed. In fact, as many as 14 cities dump 75 per cent of their solid wastes, which is as high as 15,785 tonnes a day, indicating the lack of adequate treatment and disposal facilities.
"In cities like Delhi, Faridabad, Greater Mumbai, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Pune and Surat, which are at the higher end of the waste generation spectrum, more than 80 per cent of the waste is disposed off in landfills,'' the report said. It pointed out that waste treatment options such as composting and waste-to-energy plants were not being adequately explored by the big cities, which generate high percentage of waste.
The survey reveals the enormity of the solid waste problem in urban centres where most of the waste is getting disposed in existing unorganised dumpsites without any scientific treatment. A surprising and disturbing fact unveiled through the survey is the absence of designated dumpsites in certain cities which results in the waste lying in the open in many of the outskirts of the big cities.
However, with cities like Delhi, Greater Mumbai, Jaipur, Lucknow, Pune, Surat and Ahmedabad, which supply over 80 per cent of their waste to dump sites, there is a huge potential for landfill gas-based energy projects. Landfill gas is the natural by-product of the decomposition of solid waste in landfills and is comprised primarily of carbon dioxide and methane. It can be used as a substitute for electricity generated by thermal or coal.
Interestingly, only 5 out of the 22 cities have conducted a feasibility study on methane emissions Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Greater Mumbai and Jamshedpur. The business house has also suggested public private partnership as well as roping in of private players, which have better knowhow and resources to work hand in hand with the authorities to ensure proper waste management in cities.