Cement, Energy and Environment

segregation of waste at source with private sector help. Since the urban local bodies (ULBs) lack the financial and institutional capacity necessary for integrated management of municipal solid waste, which requires investments, especially for 'Waste to Energy' projects, "it is appropriate to transfer the commercial risks to the private sector in order to ensure an efficient system for collection, transportation and processing of waste for generation of electricity," it says. Urban India currently generates 1,70,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste a day. Only 19 per cent of this waste is treated and rest (81 per cent) goes to dump sites causing serious problems to health and environment. City projects In this backdrop, the report proposes that 'Waste to Energy' projects can be set up in cities with population above two million, generating more than 300 tonnes per day or more of combustible waste. The report proposes a model scheme for such projects and proposes exemption from corporate income tax for the first five years , immediate refund of value-added tax and a feed-in tariff, which means higher price for renewable energy, among other things. Business model Taking a cue from China, the task force also proposes a 'tipping fee' for a private operator who undertakes the responsibi lity of processing the waste and in the process deriving some useful products to meet part of the cost. It says the gap (30-50 per cent) between the amount spent by the concessionaire on processing the waste and the income derived from the products, should be partly bridged by payment of tipping fee by the ULBs and the rest by 40 per cent viability gap funding. Besides this, the report suggests involvement of civil society, resident welfare associations and NGOs to raise community awareness on waste minimisation and also calls for integration of kabadiwalas and ragpickers into the municipal waste management system. Courtesy; Business Line. 15.05.2014 WASTE-TO-ENERGY: FUTILE WITHOUT EFFICIENT WASTE SEGREGATION 1. Introduction Waste management is a major problem in Indian cities. With the country's urban population growing 31.8 per cent between 2001 and 2011, 377 million people now live in cities, generating 110,000-150,000 tonnes per day (TPD) of municipal solid wastes (MSW).1.2 Urban and industrial waste is a potential source of energy to generate electricity. Though the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) estimated 4,000 MW of potential from these wastes in 2012, the waste-to-energy programme is in the doldrums because of inefficient waste management and poor environmental performance.3 A Supreme Court judgment has put severe strictures on deployment of waste-to-energy projects based on MSW. Following major concerns about waste management and environmental hazards of MSW projects-and the subsequent failure of such projects-the Supreme Court in 2007 ruled that energy extraction from MSW cannot be promoted until five pilot projects (promoted till then by MNRE) operate successfully without violating environmental laws and causing pollution. But these projects have been bedeviled by severe environmental, technical and operational concerns. Several complaints have been registered against a 16-MW plant in New Delhi's Okhla area for exceeding pollution levels. On January 14, 2014, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee issued a show cause notice to the Okhla waste-to-energy plant for violating air pollution control norms.4 In fact the first MSW project setup in Vijayawada by M/s Sri ram Energy Systems Ltd closed down due to technical faults, apart from environment problems. Another 5 MW project in Lucknow shutdown due to operational issues, and lack of organic content in the waste, just a few months after it was initiated.5,6 Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2000 which could have given a fillip to waste-to-energy projects has been ignored by the urban local bodies. A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report of 2008 highlights major lapses in implementation of the rules both at central and state levels. Waste-to-energy remains a futile exercise without a scientific and efficient waste management programme backed by a strong coalition between citizens and municipalities. The sector requires a policy that emphasizes strict adherence to environmental rules and standards and has roadmaps for developing technology and sustainable business models. 45