Dr. Pooja GhoshDST Inspire FacultyCRDT, IIT-D

Energy recoveryfrom

Municipal solid waste

It is a material, substance, or by-product which is

eliminated or discarded, as no longer useful or required

after the completion of a process.

How we define waste?

“Waste is merely raw material in the wrong place”

- Frederick A Talbot in his book“ Millions from Waste” 1920

It is not WASTE until it’s WASTED

Municipal solid waste (MSW)The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 has defined MSW

as commercial and domestic wastes generated in municipal or notified areas in either solid or

semi-solid form excluding industrial hazardous wastes but including treated bio-medical

wastes.

MSW

Organics (Kitchen waste,

Agro waste, Garden waste)

Inert (Sand, Pebbles, Gravel)

Recyclables (Plastic, Paper, Tin cans, Metal, Glass, Syringes)

MSW generation: A global overview

Growing global population, rapid urbanization and economic development have led to

increased MSW generation.

In the year 2012, approximately 1.3 billion tons of MSW were generated globally.

This amount has been predicted to rise to approximately 2.2 billion tons by the year

2025.

The per capita generation of waste (kg/person/day) in case of developed countries is

more (USA: 2 kg/person/day, Australia: 1.77 kg/person/day) compared to developing

countries (India: 0.37 kg/person/day).

However, the waste management options in developed countries have moved towards

efficient waste management scenarios involving exploiting more energy and materials

from waste stream and minimizing environmental pollution.

Waste Generation in India

India is growing; and so are themountains of waste its cities and villagesare generating.

CPCB Report, 2015:India produces approximately 52 milliontonnes of waste each year (0.144 milliontonnes per day).

Table 1 Major cities of India and per capita waste generation data (2010-2011)

Source: Census of India 2011, CPCB Report 2011.

Table 2 Waste generation per capita in Indian cities

Source: Kumar et al., 2017

9,000 TPD

17,000-

25,000 TPD

Delhi MSW

generation (2016)

Projected Delhi MSW

generation (2021)

The World Bank

estimates that by 2025

solid waste generation

in India will rise by 243

per cent.

Waste Composition in India

CPCB (2015)estimates

90 % Indian cities

dispose their waste

in landfills.

Methane

emissions

Leachate

discharge

Landfills in India Non-EngineeredNo BaselinersNo Leachate Collection SystemNo CH4 capture

Diagram of an Engineered landfill

LeachateCause of Concern!Ø Dissolved organic matter

Ø Inorganic macro components

Ø Heavy metals

Ø Xenobiotic organic

compounds

Chemical and toxicological evaluation of leachate from

municipal solid waste landfill sites

of Delhi, India.

#Contaminants

#CancerRisk

#Cytotoxicity

#Genotoxicity

Source: Ghosh P, Gupta A, Thakur IS (2015) Environmental

Science and Pollution Research. 22:9148-9158.

Does urban MSW affect rural areas?

Peri-urban or Intermediately Ruralareas are the new targets for dumpingsolid wastes. For eg. Landfill sites atMavallipura and Mandur villages nearBangalore.

September 11, 2014

So what is

the solution

for WM ?

Proper WM is the need of the hour

Ø Follow 4Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and

Recover

Ø Awareness to enhance Segregation

Ø No more dumping in the Unengineered

Landfills

ØWaste to Energy

Ø Policy measures: Charge for waste generation,

producer responsibility scheme, landfill disposal

bans

Concept of 4Rs needs to be followed seriously

REDUCE: Reduce the amount of garbage

generated. Alter your lifestyle so that minimum

garbage is generated.

REUSE: Reuse everything to its maximum after

properly cleaning it. Make secondary use of

different articles.

RECYCLE: Keep things which can be recycled

to be given to rag pickers or waste pickers.

RECOVER: Recover energy by Anaerobic

digestion, gasification, pyrolysis.

WASTE SEGREGATION

Segregation of waste at source is important.

It’s an effort that pays everybody and solves

half the city’s problem of waste management.

Waste segregation costs nothing and takes

hardly any extra time. It’s a matter of

understanding and more about responsible

behavior.

When you segregate waste into two basic

streams like organic (degradable) and

inorganic (non-biodegradable), the waste

generated is better understood and

consequently recycled and reused with higher

potential for recovery. Waste pickers typically

use inorganic waste and segregate waste

further into paper, metal, plastic and then sell

them to earn a livelihood.

NO MORE DUMPING IN UNENGINEERED LANDFILL SITES

Ghazipur landfill has already crossed 50

metres height and still 3000 tonnes per day

waste is being dumped.

The EDMC has not identified any other

alternative site to dump waste so far. As per

officials, the one site provided by DDA at O-

Zone near Yamuna has been rejected by

National Green Tribunal.

The Ghazipur landfill was commissioned in

1984 and is not designed according to the

Municipal Solid Waste Rules of 2000, which

mandates all such dumpsites to have eco-

friendly garbage management facilities.

NO MORE DUMPING IN UNENGINEERED LANDFILL SITES

MSW FOR RECOVERING ENERGY

According to MNRE, energy

recovery potential from MSW for

the year 2017 for India was

approximately 5200 MW. Of this,

only 24 MW has been exploited,

which is less than 1.5 % of the

total potential.

Maharashtra, UP, TN, WB

Karnataka and AP with high urban

population generate loads of MSW

with significant power recovery

potential –over 100 MW each.

Delhi due to its high population

density has an energy potential

equivalent to AP.

2012

MSW TO ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

(Biochemical conversion)

Consists of 4 stages

involving different consortia of

micro-organisms.

Biogas (CH4 + CO2) is

produced through digestion of

organic materials in the

absence of oxygen. It also

contains sulfur compounds

(H2S and alkythiols), ammonia,

alcohols, carbonyl compounds

(aldehydes and ketones),

carboxylic acids in traces.

FACTORS AFFECTING BIOGAS PRODUCTION

Temperature: Anaerobes are most active in the mesophilic

(30-40 ˚C) and thermophilic (50-60 ˚C) temperature range.

pH value: Desirable- 6.8-7.2

C/N Ratio: Desirable- 20-30:1

Bacterial population

Organic loading rate

Hydraulic Retention time

METHANE PRODUCTION POTENTIAL OF DIFFERENT MSW

Reference: Matsakas et al. (2017) Green conversion of municipal solid wastes into fuels and chemicals. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology 26, 69–83.

Pre-treatment

Co-digestion

Additives

INCINERATION

(Thermal conversion)

Involves complete combustion of solid waste at high temperature (700-1400 ˚C)

and aerated conditions.

End products: Ash, flue gas and heat.

The most attractive feature of incineration is that it helps in reducing the volume of

combustible waste by 80-90 %.

Energy recovered can be used for electricity generation.

Incineration is not much practiced for MSW in India due to the high moisture (40-60

%), organic content (40-60 %) and low calorific value of MSW (600-1100 kcal/kg).

Incineration requires waste of atleast 1460 kcal/kg.

The first large scale MSW incineration plant came into operation in Timarpur in

1987. It was operational for only 6 months and closed due to its poor performance.

Timarpur-Okhla Waste Management Co Pvt Ltd (TOWMCL) started in 2010.

Environmental problems associated:

a) Release of pollutants like dioxins and furans (carcinogenic).

b) Left over waste needs to be landfilled.

GASIFICATION

(Thermo-chemical conversion)

Generally, the feedstock requires

some pre-processing to remove the

inorganic materials (such as metals and

glass) that cannot be gasified.

Involves partial oxidation and

temperature between 800-1200 ˚C

depending on the feedstock composition.

Products: SYNGAS (mixture of CO and

H2 predominantly along with traces of

CO2, CH4 and other LMW

hydrocarbons). Also contains a number

of undesired components such as PM,

tar, alkali, sulfide and chlorine.

Gasification emissions are generally an

order of magnitude lower than the

emissions from an incinerator.

Applications of purified SYNGAS

PYROLYSIS

(Thermo-chemical conversion)

It is a thermochemical decomposition process conducted under oxygen-deficient

conditions, typically at temperatures ranging between 300 ˚C and 650 ˚C.

Products: char, bio-oil and condensable gases.

Part of the condensable gases may further decompose into secondary products including

CO, CO2, H2 and CH4.

The pyrolytic liquid known as bio-oil as a result of condensation of volatiles can be utilized

as a fuel product or as an intermediate for the synthesis of fine chemicals.

The char can be used in a number of applications, including energy production and as soil

amendment.

The yields and composition of pyrolysis products depend on: a) Feedstock properties

b) Pyrolysis temperature

c) Heating rate: Slow or fast pyrolysis

Reference: Chen et al. (2014) Pyrolysis technologies for municipal solid waste: A review. 34: 2466-2486.

TOWARDS A TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY LANDFILL

BIOREACTOR LANDFILL TECHNOLOGY

Conventional Landfill Bioreactor Landfill

Basic principle: To

contain & store waste.

Takes about 30-50

years for

decomposition

Leachate generation &

release of landfill gas

pose long term

environmental risk.

Basic principle:

Treatment of waste

along with energy

capture.

Takes about 5-10

years for

decomposition

Tackles the

environmental

problems associated

with landfilling.

Dr. Pooja Ghosh

Biogas generation potential from MSW in

India is estimated to be 3369 million m3 year-1

Fig. Schematic diagram of open dump

simulatorFig. Schematic diagram of anaerobic

bioreactor landfill simulator

BIOREACTOR LANDFILL

TECHNOLOGY

PROS

INCREASED METHANE RECOVERY

RAPID WASTE STABILIZATION

RECOVERY OF LANDFILL AIR

SPACE

ON SITE LEACHATE MANAGEMENT

REDUCTION IN COST ASSOCIATED WITH LONG TERM MONITORING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE LANDFILL

CONS

INCREASED COST FOR LANDFILL DESIGN AND OPERATION

LIMITED LEACHATE QUANTITIES FOR

RECIRCULATION IN DRYER CLIMATES

Currently there are no full-scale

bioreactor landfills operational in

India due to design and

operational challenges along with

cost associated with full-scale

landfill bioreactor operation.

Dr. Pooja Ghosh

INITIATIVES TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

A Paradigm Shift in Waste Management and Cleanliness in India

The aim is to have door-to-door collection of garbage in all 81,000 urban wards in India. So far,

41,000 wards have been covered.

However, waste processing – into compost or energy – remains a bigger challenge of the

programme. When Swachh Bharat Mission started, the waste processing had reached a level of

16%. Three years on, it is at 22%.

Total estimated capacity of production of compost from municipal waste is 54 lakh tonnes, but so

far installed capacity of compost generation is just 15 lakh. At present, there are 145 compost

plants in operation and 200 are under construction.

About 150 waste-to-energy projects are under construction.

Solid Waste Management Rules 2016

Segregation Of Waste Is Important

As per the new rules, all waste generators should start segregating their waste into three categories – Biodegradables, Dry

Waste (Plastic, Paper, metal, Wood) and Domestic Hazardous Waste (diapers, napkins, mosquito repellents, cleaning

agents) before they hand it over to the collectors.

Introduction Of New Things – User Fees And Spot Fines

Under the new rules, waste generators will have to pay some amount to the waste collectors for activities like collection,

disposal, and processing of waste. The local body across India has the authority to decide the ‘User Fees.’ The rules also

stipulate zero tolerance for throwing, burning or burying the solid waste generated on streets, open public spaces, water

bodies, etc. “Spot Fines” are also introduced under these new rules which means if someone is found littering or

disobeying the guidelines, then local bodies have the authority to fine them.

A Bin Is A Must For Street Vendors

All street vendor should keep suitable containers or bins for storage of the waste generated by them such as food waste,

disposable plates, cups, cans, wrappers, coconut shells, leftover food, vegetables, fruits etc. They are also responsible for

their own waste and should deposit their waste at a waste storage depot or container or vehicle as notified by the local

authority.

Guidelines For The Over-growing Landfills

No non-recyclable waste having calorific value of 1500 Kcal/kg or more shall be disposed in the landfills. That waste can

either be utilized for generating energy or can be used for preparing refuse derived fuel. It can also be used for co-

processing in cement or thermal power plants. As per the new rules, the landfill site should be 100 metres away from a

river, 200 metres from a pond, 500 metres away from highways, habitations, public parks and water supply wells and 20

km away from airports/airbase.

Waste Processing And Treatment Guidelines

The new rules advise that the bio-degradable waste should be processed, treated and disposed of through composting

or bio-methanation within the premises as far as possible and the residual waste shall be given to the waste collectors

or agency as directed by the local authority. The developers of Special Economic Zone, industrial estate, industrial

park will also have to earmark at least 5 percent of the total area of the plot or minimum 5 plots/ sheds for recovery

and recycling facility. The rules have also mandated bio‐remediation or capping of old and abandoned dump sites

within five years.

Involvement of Ragpickers

The new rules help in the integration of ragpickers, waste pickers and kabadiwalas from the informal sector to the

formal sector by the state government.

Guidelines for Municipal authorities

All local bodies are required to set up few by-laws regarding waste management, segregation of waste within their

society. They are also required to set up a system in place so as the process of waste segregation can be followed

smoothly by all waste generators. They are also required to promote the idea of composting, waste segregation and

waste management through different educative campaigns.

The Process Of Monitoring

The government has also established a Central Monitoring Committee under the chairmanship of Secretary,

MoEF&CC to monitor the overall implementation of the rules effectively. It is advised that the committee comprising

of various stakeholders from the central and state governments will meet once a year to discuss and monitor the

implementation of these rules.

Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 (contd.)

Sustainability is taken seriously in Sweden.Very little household waste is actuallywasted in Sweden — less than 1 percent.The other 99 percent is recycled into newproducts, raw materials, or incinerated andused for gas or heat. Renewable energysources account for nearly half (48 per cent)of Swedish energy production.In 2015, Sweden imported 2.3 million tonnesof waste from, among others, Norway, the UKand Ireland.

Pune MCD’s Biogas Initiative - Solution to food waste with the bonus of eco-fuel

Leadership n’ Governance