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Managing Mumbai’s humongous
waste
A case in point is the ambitious WTE project of
Mumbai city’s municipal corporation that aims
to address several complex issues in managing
tonnes of garbage within the constraints of non-
availability of land for landfills and the rising
concerns of pollution in the island state. Mumbai
city alone generates more than 8000 tonnes of waste
per day and the Deonar dumping grounds receive
approximately 3000 tonnes. A scientific process to
stem the rot was called for on an SOS basis.
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
(MCGM) appointed Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE)
as consultants for this ambitious project. In Mumbai’s
Deonar waste management project, the challenge
was the un-segregated nature of trash, the acute
shortage of land for the processing plant and the
scale of operations. MCGM is considering a capacity
of about 3000 tonnes per day which is compliant with
the current SWM (Solid Waste Management) 2016
and all other applicable rules. The WTE project is a
fresh start to manage the fresh waste generated each
day at the Deonar facility.
Planning of supporting
infrastructure is critical as
efficiencies need to be built
in at every step such that
the project is cost-efficient
and sustainable.
The WTE plant
design, logistics of
managing the daily
trash, efficiency in
managing residue
etc., depend on the
constraints on land
availability.
Waste management and
energy generation are
two complex systems
managed parallelly.
As such equipment
and processes needs
to be kept efficient to
avoid cost overruns and
operational hazards.
Scientific selection of waste
management & WTE process
requires understanding of
waste composition, economic
implications/needs etc.
Customisation is required
based on the pollution
compliance law of the land,
HSE requirements to be
complied to for effectively
managing the process.
WASTE TYPE-
ORGANIC/
INORGANIC
SUPPORTING
INFRASTRUCTURE
REGULATORY
ENVIRONMENT,
HEALTH &
SAFETY
MANAGING
REVENUE
FROM BY-
PRODUCTS
LAND
AVAILABILITY
FOR FILL &
PLANT
OPERATIONS &
MAINTENANCE
By-products from the
waste management
process is a complete
ecosystem by itself.
Right from revenues
from waste recycling,
re-use to energy
generation and sale - it
is both a technical and
commercial operation.
MSW
TO
ENERGY
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