Rudrapur and Mussoorie in Uttarakhand Convert Garbage into Electricity and Fertiliser

Officials have announced that civic bodies in Rudrapur and Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, have started generating electricity and fertilisers from waste. The increasing population has led to a rise in garbage production, posing challenges for municipal bodies concerning cleanliness and environmental pollution. An official source highlighted this growing issue.

In Rudrapur, the municipal corporation manages 40 wards and produces between 105 to 118 metric tonnes of waste daily. This waste is now being utilised to generate electricity and fertiliser under the Waste to Energy programme. The initiative began in November 2022 under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Waste-to-Energy Programme

The waste-to-energy plant in Rudrapur currently produces six kilowatts of electricity and organic fertiliser daily from the garbage collected. Although the plant can process up to 50 tonnes of waste per day, it currently handles 30 tonnes, converting it into electricity and a fertiliser named Kalyani.

Mussoorie Municipality also launched its waste-to-energy plant in May this year. Operating under a PPP model, this facility can process eight tonnes of garbage daily. In addition to generating biogas, the plant produces organic fertiliser, addressing the waste problem scientifically in this tourist destination.

Government Support

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed satisfaction with these initiatives. He stated that his government focuses on balancing ecology and economy. "Waste-to-energy programme was conceived as a step towards that goal. As a result of that electricity is being generated from garbage by the municipal bodies in the two towns," he said.

The efforts in both towns demonstrate a commitment to sustainable waste management solutions. By converting waste into energy and fertiliser, these projects help mitigate environmental pollution while providing valuable resources.