Page 52 - CIJ Feb 2025 - Digital Edition

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Prayagraj’s Legacy Waste Revolution

A Model for India’s Sustainable Future

Beyond setting benchmarks for the grand organization of the Mahakumbh Mela this year, Prayagraj is
also leading a revolution in legacy municipal solid waste disposal. This transformative model is steadily
being adopted by major districts across Uttar Pradesh. Ashish Tiwari (IFS), Additional Managing Director
(Forest Certification), Uttar Pradesh Forest Corporation, shared with Clean India Journal how the
Prayagraj model is turning towering waste dumps into freed prime land, at the same time generating
revenue for urban local bodies

What is the scale of environmental impact such as What are the
polluting of ground water and
the municipal solid air and locking scarce land area technical challenges
waste problem in running into tens of hectares. in processing RDF?
Uttar Pradesh? Why was Prayagraj The RDF must not contain
Of the 20,000 tonnes of chosen as a model any kind of Construction and
municipal solid waste generated Demolition (C&D) waste such
as bricks else when it goes in a
per day, UP processes around for legacy waste cement kiln and into a shredding
60 per cent. The rest goes to disposal? machine before actually mixing
the legacy side. Over a period with the clinker, the blade of the
-- 10 to 15 years -- when the Why Prayagraj? It is a city shredder could get damaged.
compostable fraction of the where transient population Other issues also need to be
legacy waste is decomposed, becomes very high every year addressed before generating
there still remains around 45 because of annual festivities quality waste for cement plants.
to 50 per cent of the waste that resulting in huge waste
is non-compostable and non- generation. The city also has What were the
recyclable. This intervention at least six cement plants in its
involves remediation and proper periphery of 300km. There was financial challenges
disposal of that legacy waste. a huge dumpsite with around in implementing the
one lac 40,000 metric tonnes
How has the of legacy waste in 2022 that model?
only kept growing. The non-
Another challenge was
government compostable, non-recyclable transportation cost. Cement
strategized waste plastic waste can be used by plants refused to bear it as the
management? cement plants for co-processing cost was more expensive than
and is called refuse derived fuel
the usual fuel they were using.
The government adopted a (RDF). This fuel is produced Appropriate conditions have also
two-pronged strategy to deal with from combustible components to be incorporated in the vendor’s
current and legacy waste. Current that the industry calls Municipal terms of reference to make it
waste was being addressed by Solid Waste (MSP) and is economically viable for them. We
the government by investing used to generate energy from brought the cement plant and the
in waste management facilities waste. The Prayagraj model is a brand owners on one platform,
that even now continue to face technically sound, economically told them that the transportation
challenges in functionality and viable business model which cost could be met by upfront
viability. This waste continues creates quality RDF with the payment by brand owners and in
to add on to the legacy waste. right calorific value and moisture return for that cost, they would
Dealing with legacy waste is content that can be used by get the plastic processing credits
necessary because it has negative cement plants for co-processing. by the cement plants.
52 FEBRUARY 2025•Clean India Journal•www.cleanindiajournal.com