CSIR-CMERI Director Speaks on Development of Traditional Waste Processing Techniques & Managing Municipal Wastage

The Director of CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur Prof. (Dr.) Harish Hirani on Saturday deliberated upon ‘Sustainable Processing of Municipal Solid Waste’ as the invited Keynote Speaker for the live-streamed Facebook Page of Krishi Jagran.

Moreover, Dr. Hirani has delivered the most important message through the live session with Krishi Jagran to its viewers amid the most crucial time when the whole globe is fighting against pandemic.

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 CO2emission 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 ineffective processing of wastes is the root of all diseases:

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.”

Innovative Technology of Producing the Bio-Gas

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.

Source: PIB