State inks pact with GAIL to generate gas from wet waste

State inks pact with GAIL to generate gas from wet waste

News –

• The Karnataka ​government has signed an agreement with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) to generate gas from wet waste in Bengaluru.
• This will help reduce the problem of waste in Bengaluru,and that the gas will be distributed to industries and hotels.

The types of waste generated and managed in Bangalore include:

• Organic Waste – Kitchen waste such as food leftovers, vegetable peels, fruit waste, tea/coffee grounds, eggshells, garden pruning and green waste.
• Non-Organic (Dry) Waste – Recyclable solid waste like plastics (bags, bottles, containers), metals (utensils, wires, batteries), glass (bottles/cups), paper (newspapers, cardboard), and wood.
• Hazardous Waste – Items such as insect sprays, chemicals, medical waste (syringes, bio-medical waste), e-waste, batteries, and sanitary products.
• Inert Waste – Construction and demolition debris like sand, concrete, clay, subsoil, stones, and rubble.

Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016:

• Mandatory Source Segregation: Waste generators must segregate waste into three streams: wet (biodegradable), dry (plastic, paper, metal, etc.), and domestic hazardous waste.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Manufacturers/brand owners of certain products (e.g., plastic packaging, e-waste, batteries) are financially responsible for collecting and processing their post-consumer waste.
• Role of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): Responsible for door-to-door collection, transportation, processing, and disposal.
• User Fees and Spot Fines: Local bodies can levy user fees for waste services and spot fines for littering or non-segregation.
• Promotion of Waste Processing: Emphasis on composting, biomethanation, recycling, and waste-to-energy plants over landfills.

Government Initiatives

• Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) (Urban and Gramin): Flagship cleanliness campaign with a focus on achieving “Garbage-Free Cities” (SBM-U 2.0) through scientific waste management.
• Waste to Wealth Mission: Promotes converting waste into energy, compost, and other valuable products.
• GOBAR-Dhan Scheme: Focuses on converting organic waste and cattle dung into biogas, bio-CNG, and organic manure in rural areas.
• NAMASTE Scheme: Aims to formalize and integrate informal waste pickers into the formal waste management system, providing them with safety and social security.