Page 63 - CleanIndiaJournal June Digital Issue

Waste tidbits

40 years of legacy

waste treated in

nine months

Assam’s North Lakhimpur shows the way

orth Lakhimpur in material. It was used to obtain
Assam has treated two by-products – 25 mm
a legacy waste organic waste and the other
of around 79,000 refuse-derived fuel (RDF),
Nmetric tonnes (MT) which is largely plastic. The
accumulated over 40 years in 25mm component is further
and near the river Sumdiri, processed through another
which is not a designated Trommel machine, and the
dumping ground. The waste, final product is six mm organic
cleared in less than a year, has waste.
been processed into refuse-
derived fuel, sent to be used as The total expense for treating
fuel in a cement factory, and 79,000Mt of legacy waste was
to 25 mm and 6 mm organic `26.1 million, from the Tied
matter used as fertiliser. funds of the North Lakhimpur

The large mountains of Municipal Board (NLMB).
municipal solid waste (MSW) Part of the 25 mm and six
were first excavated and broken mm organic waste is sold to
into smaller piles, sprayed with farmers as fertilisers. The RDF
an organic chemical called is sent to a cement factory
Bioculum, and left for 15 days in the neighbouring state of
to decompose. The decomposed Meghalaya to be used as fuel
waste was then passed through in the kilns. The NLMB so far
a Trommel machine comprising does not derive a monetary
a cylindrical drum with several benefit from this, instead
holes of predefined size that transports truckloads of RDF at
help segregate the waste its own expense.

Clean India Journal•JUNE 2023 63
www.cleanindiajournal.com