CSIR-CMERI Director Speaks on Development of Traditional Waste Processing Techniques & Demonstrates how Municipal Wastes may be managed
New Delhi, October 17: The Director of CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur Prof. (Dr.) Harish Hirani today deliberated upon ‘Sustainable Processing of Municipal Solid Waste’ as the invited Keynote Speaker for the Krishi Jagran, live-streamed on its Facebook Page.
Prof. (Dr.) Hirani charted out the historical development of the traditional Waste Processing Techniques and demonstrated how the changing ecological scenario requires special customized attention towards the processing of the municipal solid wastes. The decentralized waste management technology developed by CSIR-CMERI will help in resulting in drastic reduction of the expenditure related to the transportation logistics and in the Indian scenario it can help reduction of CO2 emission also, by reducing the fossil fuel usage. The scientifically decentralized waste processing hubs will help multiply outreach for the various locations and will also boost the manufacturing potential of the residents of the region. This CSIR-CMERI MSW Technology envisages a zero-landfill and a zero waste city in addition to boosting job-creation opportunities. This technology will also help create a revived Green Energy reliant India, opined Prof. (Dr.) Hirani.
The CSIR-CMERI Director stated, “The ineffective processing of wastes is the root of all diseases as the dumped landfills transform into the Contamination Hubs for Pathogens, Bacteria and Viruses. Besides, they also become the cauldron for emission of Methane Gas, especially during the churning mechanism applied during the Composting processes. The Composting also does not yield impactful economic returns for the entrepreneurs. The mixed nature of wastes in the current scenario can easily lead to infiltration of heavy metals into agricultural produce, through the indiscriminate creation of Composts. The CSIR-CMERI developed Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility has not only helped achieving decentralized decimation of solid wastes, but has also helped create value-added end-products from abundantly available redundant stuffs such as dry leaves, dry grass etc. The primary focus of CSIR-CMERI is to unburden the common households from the segregation responsibilities through advanced segregation techniques. The bio-digestion process adopted has minimum pollution factor also. The MSW facility has been equipped with special capabilities to deal with a diverse range of waste including masks, sanitary napkins, diapers etc. The MSW facility has been with special disinfection capabilities to help break the COVID Chain through UV-C Lights and Hot-Air Convection methods. We have also achieved optimum energy sufficiency in the MSW facility by adding the solar energy technology, which can also feed the surplus energy supply onto a mini-grid.”
It is to be mentioned that the Institute developed Solid Waste Disposal using Plasma Arc converting wastes into plasma state for proper disposal. The residues generated having good carbon content is used in the agriculture as fertilizer and non usable are utilized to make bricks for the construction purposes. Thus, the wealth out of wastes is created through the use of science.
The Prime Minister of India has also called for use of science in every sphere of life. It may be noted that the above Institute technology pertains to the period 2013-16 and has some cost constraints. Thus another solution provided by CSIR-CMERI which is more cost effective is Mechanized Segregation Process. The existing Composting procedure has some drawback as it requires more land space, pasteurization is required for effective disinfection, it is labour intensive and has restricted utilization due to presence of heavy metals. During the rainy season its management is difficult due to presence of moisture. The alternative solution is Bio-methanation Plant.
CSIR-CMERI has also started an innovative technology of producing the Bio-gas from grass and weeds and vermi-composting of slurry of the plant process. A mechanized system has been developed to utilize saw dust, shredded leaves, biogas slurry and produces briquettes. The smokeless stove has also been developed to utilize these briquettes. Such stoves have the benefits of reduction in import of LPG and reduction in pollution.
Towards targeting a zero landfill the latest technology being used by Institute is Pyrolysis process wherein conversion of plastics into gas and fuel are done. This is an environment-friendly process and produces within permissible toxins as conversion happens in the anaerobic chamber. Heavy oil, gas being used in Pyrolysis helps in obtaining self-sustainability. Through Plasma Gasification Process also eco friendly disposal of solid wastes is processed without formation and reformation of toxic dioxins and furans. The decentralized Solid waste management plant developed by CSIR-CMERI has all the potential to manage the COVID and other viruses available in the wastes.
