Page 14 - Turning Trash to Treasure: Development of Waste-to-Energy Technologies
P. 14
etc.) should be made to pay more
through a tax/cess/ fi ne.
3. The size of the project for different
option would also be a crucial
aspect. For example, as a general
rule, incineration should only be
considered if the incoming waste
stream has an average net calorifi c
value of at least 7 MJ/kg (that
is, combustion process is self-
sustaining). In addition, for optimal
operation of the plant, the supply
of combustible MSW should at least
amount to 100,000 tonnes / year.
4. Seasonal changes in waste quality,
such as during holidays and festivals
and local traditions which may
impact the nature of waste must
also be taken into consideration.
Where waste has signifi cant water
content and the organic fraction
of the waste is relatively high, and
sophisticated waste collection and
transportation structures are not
in place, biochemical methods of
energy conversion should be the
wastes are especially expensive due be key strategies for diverting waste preferred option.
to high cost incurred in gas cleaning from landfi lls. Most of the cities are The next step should be to strengthen
in order to comply with stringent air now facing problem of siting and segregation of the non-recyclable dry
emission standards. developing landfi ll sites due not only combustible MSW at secondary storage
» Regarding social aspects, the main to paucity of land but also opposition depots/transfer stations and optimally
challenge is the lack of public of neighbourhood population. It is utilize this material in the form of RDF
acceptance which is based on therefore desirable to look at the which can be fed to waste to energy
negative perceptions of impact of following aspects to make waste to power plants and as an auxiliary fuel in
these operations on health and the energy projects viable for India. the cement and metallurgical industries.
environment. There is a lack of public 1. As the waste quantities would be Setting up of small to large plastic waste
acceptance to specifi c processes, such heterogeneous on the daily basis,
as waste incineration. there is a need to add biomass or to liquid fuel plants, thereby utilizing
» General opposition to the population any other supplementary fuel to the plastic which is not picked up by
residing in the vicinity of such make it uniform for the purpose of kabadiwalas and rag pickers also needs
projects is a result of often poor fi ring it into the boilers. to be encouraged.
visual aesthetics of the project site. 2. To address the funding issue in It is pertinent to ensure the
This is due to poor construction order to make waste to energy development and implementation of
practices for the project site to keep plants viable, as suggested by waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies
the cost low, poorly maintained waste Parliamentary Committee, the while following sustainability principles
storage areas at the site, and the foul principle of “Polluters Pay, along in order to ensure a correct waste
smell emanating from waste piles in with common but differentiated treatment strategy and environment-
unfavourable wind conditions. responsibility” should be adopted, friendly energy production; in addition
to resolving challenges in both the waste
that is, the increased cost should
The Road Ahead not be borne by all customers management and energy sectors.
Waste to energy projects whether equally instead of the one who Dr Suneel Pandey, Senior Fellow & Director,
decentralized (in case of AD) or produces more solid waste (such as Centre for Waste Management, Environment
and Waste Management Division, TERI
centralized (RDF, incineration, co- restaurants, hotels, marriage halls,
processing, recovery of LFG) would other commercial establishments,
July–September 2018 20 energy future
through a tax/cess/ fi ne.
3. The size of the project for different
option would also be a crucial
aspect. For example, as a general
rule, incineration should only be
considered if the incoming waste
stream has an average net calorifi c
value of at least 7 MJ/kg (that
is, combustion process is self-
sustaining). In addition, for optimal
operation of the plant, the supply
of combustible MSW should at least
amount to 100,000 tonnes / year.
4. Seasonal changes in waste quality,
such as during holidays and festivals
and local traditions which may
impact the nature of waste must
also be taken into consideration.
Where waste has signifi cant water
content and the organic fraction
of the waste is relatively high, and
sophisticated waste collection and
transportation structures are not
in place, biochemical methods of
energy conversion should be the
wastes are especially expensive due be key strategies for diverting waste preferred option.
to high cost incurred in gas cleaning from landfi lls. Most of the cities are The next step should be to strengthen
in order to comply with stringent air now facing problem of siting and segregation of the non-recyclable dry
emission standards. developing landfi ll sites due not only combustible MSW at secondary storage
» Regarding social aspects, the main to paucity of land but also opposition depots/transfer stations and optimally
challenge is the lack of public of neighbourhood population. It is utilize this material in the form of RDF
acceptance which is based on therefore desirable to look at the which can be fed to waste to energy
negative perceptions of impact of following aspects to make waste to power plants and as an auxiliary fuel in
these operations on health and the energy projects viable for India. the cement and metallurgical industries.
environment. There is a lack of public 1. As the waste quantities would be Setting up of small to large plastic waste
acceptance to specifi c processes, such heterogeneous on the daily basis,
as waste incineration. there is a need to add biomass or to liquid fuel plants, thereby utilizing
» General opposition to the population any other supplementary fuel to the plastic which is not picked up by
residing in the vicinity of such make it uniform for the purpose of kabadiwalas and rag pickers also needs
projects is a result of often poor fi ring it into the boilers. to be encouraged.
visual aesthetics of the project site. 2. To address the funding issue in It is pertinent to ensure the
This is due to poor construction order to make waste to energy development and implementation of
practices for the project site to keep plants viable, as suggested by waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies
the cost low, poorly maintained waste Parliamentary Committee, the while following sustainability principles
storage areas at the site, and the foul principle of “Polluters Pay, along in order to ensure a correct waste
smell emanating from waste piles in with common but differentiated treatment strategy and environment-
unfavourable wind conditions. responsibility” should be adopted, friendly energy production; in addition
to resolving challenges in both the waste
that is, the increased cost should
The Road Ahead not be borne by all customers management and energy sectors.
Waste to energy projects whether equally instead of the one who Dr Suneel Pandey, Senior Fellow & Director,
decentralized (in case of AD) or produces more solid waste (such as Centre for Waste Management, Environment
and Waste Management Division, TERI
centralized (RDF, incineration, co- restaurants, hotels, marriage halls,
processing, recovery of LFG) would other commercial establishments,
July–September 2018 20 energy future
