KfW-supported project to process municipal waste from Ambernath, Kulgaon-Badlapur and Ulhasnagar; facility to include material recovery, biodegradable waste treatment and sanitary landfill
Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s 600-tonnes-per-day Integrated Solid Waste Processing Facility at Badlapur has achieved 60% physical progress, with the project intended to provide a common scientific waste-management system for Ambernath, Kulgaon-Badlapur and Ulhasnagar. The project is being developed under the KfW-supported Mumbai Metropolitan Region Urban Infrastructure Improvement Programme and is being implemented on a Design-Build-Operate-Transfer basis. Once operational, the facility will process municipal solid waste generated by the three participating urban local bodies through a combination of material recovery, biodegradable waste treatment and scientific disposal.
The project includes a Material Recovery Facility, facilities for processing biodegradable waste and a sanitary landfill for residual waste that cannot be recovered or processed further. According to MMRDA, the system has been designed around waste minimisation, resource recovery and scientific disposal, with the objective of reducing dependence on open dumping and conventional landfill disposal. Recovered paper, plastic, metals and glass are proposed to be channelled for recycling, while biodegradable waste will be processed for composting. The facility is also expected to produce Refuse Derived Fuel from suitable waste fractions.
MMRDA said the project is intended to reduce environmental problems associated with unmanaged municipal waste, including odour, vector breeding, fire risks and uncontrolled leachate. Scientific leachate treatment is also proposed as part of the facility to reduce the risk of soil and groundwater contamination. The authority has also said the project will seek to integrate informal waste pickers into the formal waste-management system, creating organised livelihood opportunities during the operational phase.
Multiple agencies involved
The project involves coordination among MMRDA, the three municipal bodies, KfW Development Bank, the Project Management Consultant, the contractor, technology providers and statutory authorities. Implementation has included phased site development, removal of legacy waste, facilitation of statutory approvals, controlled blasting where required, development of supporting infrastructure and procurement and installation of processing equipment. MMRDA said the project is being monitored through a milestone-based payment mechanism, independent technical verification and supervision by the Project Management Consultant.
The authority is also coordinating with KfW Development Bank on environmental, social and governance requirements associated with the project. Once completed, the Badlapur facility is expected to provide a common regional processing solution for up to 600 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day from Ambernath, Kulgaon-Badlapur and Ulhasnagar, reducing the quantity of untreated waste requiring final disposal.
