The concept was tested at a pilot plant at Anand municipality with a capacity to handle 100 kg waste. The plant has been running successfully. Everyday, waste from the Anand vegetable market is brought here and biomethanation is carried out with the help of this technology. The waste is received at the receiving platform on the site. Sorting of large-sized undesirable material like wooden cartons and gunny bags is done on the platform only.
“The vegetable and fruit markets of cities and large towns produce a large quantity of biodegradable waste on a regular basis. But they are dumped on the outskirts, which is harmful for the environment. This waste can be utilised for producing biogas and organic manure now through our technology,” said Dr S Mohana from SPRERI.
According to SPRERI, there are at least 4,000 towns and cities in India with large vegetable markets, and the waste generated at these places could be around 50,000 tonnes everyday.
Dr Mohana said: “The bigger the size, the lesser is the operational cost. Although the initial cost is high, it is a good proposition.”
According to SPRERI, vegetable waste decomposes quickly and creates unsanitary site in the market. “When transported to dumping sites, it creates problem of sanitation as well as pollution of surface and ground water. Being biodegradable, vegetable market waste can become a good source of methane and compost if it is suitably treated in anaerobic digesters,” Dr Mohana added.
