Only 13% of Delhi’s solid waste is fit for Waste-to-Energy: CSE

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NEW DELHI: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) showed a report that only 13 per cent of Delhi’s solid waste is suitable for waste to energy (WTE) plants due to its high calorific value. The rest waste can either be recycled or treated biologically. The data shows the mismanagement of waste piling up in landfills in the capital.

As per the reports, there were three WTE plants constructed with the capacity of handling 50 per cent of municipal waste.

In 2017, NGT asked the plant in Okhla to make its emission data public. However, when CSE checked, the data is not updated after the year 2016. Researchers also found that the Central Pollution Control Board is only ensuring to install emission monitoring equipment at WTE plants but not in compliance with the standards.

Swati Singh, program manager, CSE said, “According to the rules of solid waste management 2016, only segregated, non recyclable high calorific waste can be sent to WTE Plants. Only 15 per cent of 55 metric tons of municipal solid waste, can be segregated into non biodegradable, non recyclable high calorific value waste which makes up to 30,000 tons per day.