THE CONTEXT: The rise of industrial production and consumption has made waste generation inevitable, necessitating more sustainable disposal methods. Currently, global waste production amounts to 1.3 billion tonnes annually, with projections estimating a rise to 2.2 billion tonnes by 2025. This requires effective waste management solutions.
CURRENT SCENARIO OF WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA: The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Urban 2.0, launched in 2021, aims to improve waste management nationwide. However, three years into the initiative, large cities have yet to clear any land in half of their legacy landfill sites, and only 38% of the total dumped waste has been remediated so far, according to government data.
OVERVIEW OF WASTE-TO-ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES: Waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies offer a modern solution to waste management by converting non-recyclable waste materials into usable forms of energy, such as electricity or heat. These technologies serve dual purpose of managing large-scale waste generated from household, municipal, and industrial activities, and meeting the rising energy demands.
TYPES OF CONVERSION PROCESSES: Waste-to-energy conversion processes are primarily categorized into thermochemical and biochemical technologies. Both require specific pre-treatment of waste materials, such as sorting, shredding, and drying. Both thermochemical and biochemical technologies align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
THERMOCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGIES
- Incineration: It involves burning waste materials at high temperatures in specialized furnaces called incinerators. It is suitable for heterogeneous waste, including food, garden waste, plastics, and paper. Incineration is estimated to treat 70% to 90% of waste in regions where it is implemented.
- Pyrolysis: This process breaks down inorganic or plastic-rich waste in the absence of oxygen to produce fuels in all three states of matter: char (solid), pyrolysis oil (liquid), and syngas (gas). Pyrolysis is an older technology historically used to produce charcoal from wood and is suitable for homogenous waste types.
- Gasification: An advanced thermal treatment that decomposes carbon-rich municipal waste to produce syngas or producer gas, a combination of gases like hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane. Gasification is well-established in petrochemical and power industries and efficiently converts waste into high-energy gases.
BIOCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGIES
- Anaerobic Digestion (AD): AD is appropriate for organic waste, such as kitchen and garden waste. Microorganisms break down biodegradable material without oxygen, producing biogas, which can be used to generate heat or electricity.
- Composting and Landfilling: This involves the aerobic decomposition of organic waste to produce compost, which can be used as a soil conditioner. While less expensive, landfilling is environmentally detrimental due to releasing toxic gases and leachate.
GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF WASTE-TO-ENERGY SYSTEMS:
- The deployment of waste-to-energy systems is uneven globally. Developed countries like Germany, Japan, the United States, and France have a significant number of WtE plants, amounting to approximately 200 as of 2023. These countries prefer thermochemical technologies because they can handle industrial waste and generate substantial energy.
- In contrast, developing regions in Asia, Africa, and South America have fewer WtE plants. Ethiopia, for instance, installed its first incineration plant in 2017, becoming the first sub-Saharan African country to do so, with a modest capacity of 55 MW. Countries like China, India, and Malaysia have seen improvements in installing small-scale anaerobic digestion systems, reflecting a preference for biochemical technologies suited to their waste composition.
WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANTS IN INDIA:
- As of November 2022, India has 12 operational and 8 non-operational WtE plants across 10 states. Despite policy support, power generation from WtE in India is minimal. As of May 2023, the total installed capacity for WtE is 554 MW, accounting for only 0.1% of the total energy generated in the country.
- The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) runs a Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial, and Agricultural Wastes/Residues from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26, focusing on biogas generation. The Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 outlines caloric requirements for using specific technologies.
CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING WASTE-TO-ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN INDIA:
- Administrative Delays: Securing approvals for setting up WtE plants involves navigating complex bureaucratic processes, which can lead to significant delays. These administrative hurdles discourage investment and stall project implementation.
- Local Opposition and Protests: Communities often oppose WtE plants due to concerns about environmental pollution, health risks, and decreased property values. The proposed Bandhwari plant in Gurugram, Haryana, faced significant protests in 2021, exemplifying the challenges of local opposition.
- Heterogeneous and Unsegregated Waste: Indian waste often lacks proper segregation at the source, resulting in heterogeneous waste streams that are difficult to process efficiently. The poor quality of waste increases the need for extensive pre-treatment, raising operational costs and affecting the economic viability of WtE plants.
- Economic Viability Issues: The high costs associated with technology, infrastructure, and operations, combined with low revenues from energy generation, make WtE projects financially challenging. The requirement for excessive fuel due to poor waste quality further exacerbates economic concerns.
THE WAY FORWARD:
- Improving Waste Segregation at Source: Implementing robust waste segregation policies can improve the quality of waste entering WtE plants, reducing the need for costly pre-treatment processes. Public awareness campaigns and incentivizing segregation can facilitate this change.
- Enhancing Pre-Treatment Processes: Investing in advanced sorting and pre-treatment technologies can help manage heterogeneous waste streams more effectively, improving the efficiency of WtE plants.
- Addressing Technical and Policy Issues: Streamlining administrative procedures, providing financial incentives, and establishing clear regulatory frameworks can encourage investment and expedite project implementation.
- Promoting Circular Economy Principles: Emphasizing waste reduction, reuse, and recycling can complement WtE technologies, ensuring a holistic approach to waste management. This aligns with global sustainability goals and can reduce the overall waste burden.
- Learning from Global Best Practices: Adopting successful models from other countries can enhance WtE implementation. For example, Denmark’s concept of hedonistic sustainability integrates environmental sustainability with public enjoyment, creating functional and community-friendly facilities.
THE CONCLUSION:
Waste-to-energy technologies hold significant potential for contributing to sustainable growth, development, and job creation in India. Integrating WtE technologies within the broader framework of a circular economy will ensure that waste management contributes to sustainability goals and the well-being of communities.
UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTION:
Q. Industrial pollution of river water is a significant environmental issue in India. Discuss the various mitigation measures to deal with this problem and the government’s initiatives. 2024
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q. What are the impediments to effectively deploying waste-to-energy technologies in India?
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