Chennai generates over 6,000 tonnes of solid waste every day, creating a pressing need for enforcing efficient waste management systems. However, achieving effective source segregation—separating organic, recyclable, and non-recyclable waste at its origin—remains a significant challenge, according to Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).
Segregation is crucial to decentralised processing, reducing landfill dependence, and supporting composting, recycling, and resource recovery, but compliance is inconsistent among households and businesses, as detailed in the document provided by the Chief Engineer (General), S. Rajendiran during the 8th edition of the Urban Thinkers Campus (UTC), held under the theme ‘Sustainable Housing for a Sustainable City’.
The journey
To address the growing waste burden, the GCC has implemented a structured system that includes primary and secondary waste collection, decentralised processing, recycling, and legacy waste clearance, he said in the presentation titled ‘Journey of handling garbage in Chennai’.
Public participation is pivotal, but many residents and establishments struggle with proper segregation, he said.
Reduce strain on centralised systems
Awareness campaigns aim to educate households about the importance of sorting waste at the source. Bulk waste generators, such as large residential complexes and commercial establishments, are held accountable through compliance measures to reduce strain on centralised systems, the presentation mentioned.
Operating across 15 administrative zones and 200 wards, the city employs 5,966 battery-operated vehicles (BOVs) for doorstep waste collection. These vehicles transport waste to transfer stations, from where it is moved to landfills at Kodungaiyur in north Chennai and Perungudi in the south. Secondary transportation utilises a fleet of 369 compactors, 36 haulage trucks, and 157 tipper lorries. Despite this infrastructure, improper segregation at the source complicates processing at transfer stations and decentralised facilities.
Windrow composting plants
According to the presentation, decentralised waste management is central to Chennai’s strategy, alleviating the pressure on landfills. The city operates 132 micro-composting centres with a combined capacity of 856 tonnes per day to process organic waste. Additionally, garden waste and coconut shells are processed at facilities handling 160 tonnes daily. Large-scale organic waste is addressed through two windrow composting plants and two bio-CNG plants, which convert waste into compost or biogas.
Dry waste is managed through 117 Resource Recovery Centres (RRCs), where recyclable materials such as paper, plastics, and metals are sorted and processed. Non-recyclable waste is handled by three incinerators with a total capacity of 65 tonnes per day, while five baling centres compress plastic waste for co-processing as fuel in cement plants.
These systems depend heavily on proper source segregation, which continues to be a weak link, it said.
Legacy, bulk waste generators
The GCC has undertaken legacy waste clearance projects to address accumulated historical waste. At the Perungudi landfill, approximately 30.62 lakh cubic metres of legacy waste has been processed, reclaiming 96 acres of land. Planned developments for this reclaimed land include a 500-tonne-per-day bio-CNG plant, a 500-tonne-per-day windrow composting yard, and a 1,200-tonne-per-day material recovery facility, he added.
Similar efforts are underway at other sites, such as Kodungaiyur and Athipet, to address legacy waste and reclaim land for modern waste management infrastructure.
The city has identified 1,879 bulk waste generators, including large residential complexes, commercial establishments, and institutions, stated the engineer. Among these, 263 generators have installed on-site waste processing systems, while 619 have partnered with GCC-approved vendors for collection and processing.
Bulk waste generators are mandated to segregate waste and manage it responsibly. Non-compliance not only overburdens centralised facilities but also undermines segregation efforts.
Sustainable practices
The GCC is committed to integrating environmentally sustainable practices into its waste management systems. Initiatives include the expansion of decentralised infrastructure, such as additional micro-composting centres, material recovery facilities, and bio-CNG plants. Battery-operated vehicles have replaced conventional collection methods to reduce emissions and promote eco-friendly waste transportation.
Efforts are also focused on upgrading waste transportation systems for efficient and timely movement of collected waste. However, the lack of consistent segregation at source remains a bottleneck to achieving significant landfill diversion and resource recovery, he noted in the presentation.
Published – December 15, 2024 11:28 pm IST
