From wastage to wattage: Organic waste-to-energy processing centre opens in South Mumbai

Ankit Zaveri makes his point as Aditya Thackeray listens. Pics/Bipin Kokate

As the mercury zoomed in a show of strength just before an early afternoon deluge, a small group of people, including a posse of policemen gathered on a pavement at Haji Ali-Mahalaxmi.

Process plan

The ‘D' ward got an organic waste-to-energy processing centre developed by AeroCare Clean Energy, which has been set up very close to the Haji Ali-Tardeo RTO, in the same line as the Willingdon Club gates. This waste processing centre will, in a nutshell, process wet waste which is essentially food waste and convert it to electricity which will be used by the civic authorities for public lighting in the areas.

Colour and consciousness: The outside of the facility

At the inauguration on Friday late morning, Minister of Environment and Tourism Aditya Thackeray and mayor Kishori Pednekar were explained the workings of how this is going to be processed by AeroCare Clean Energy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ankit Zaveri, even as ‘D' ward Assistant Municipal Commissioner Prashant Gaikwad walked in. At a time when there are concerns about a possible third wave and people are inundated by bad news, this was an upbeat, looked forward to event.

Outbreak awareness

There has been a great uptick in cleanliness consciousness and waste management, largely because the pandemic has meant we change priorities. The inauguration timing then, was apt, even though police personnel had to remind people sporadically to keep distancing at the venue. Said Zaveri, "We are delighted to be part of government push to embrace cleaner forms of energy. The organic waste collected from bull waste generators (BWG) in the area (hotels, restaurants, large housing societies, hospitals) will be processed at our centre to generate electricity which will be used to light up the garden area around."

Zaveri added, "There has been a great emphasis on reducing plastic, recycling, which is good but what about food waste, which is essentially the wet waste that we all generate every day?" De-centralisation was the buzzword and Zaveri explained such centres were first steps to moving towards de-centralising waste management and treatment. "Currently we are looking at within ‘D' ward where big residential societies, hotels and restaurants that generate waste more than 100 kg a day, have their waste collected and then, it is brought here to be converted to clean energy. This is only the beginning, we want to eventually progress to a stage where these players actually process the waste on site, they are taught how to, and that then is brought here to be converted to energy. Currently though, we are taking things one at a time."

Less burden

Gaikwad too, pressed the ‘de-centralisation' button. The assistant municipal commissioner said, "It is important to de-centralise the process of waste management and treatment so that we reduce the load on the Kanjur dumping ground. Ideally, this should be done in every ward, we have 24 wards. If such a facility is in every ward, then we have roughly a reduction of 50 tonnes of waste being reduced daily at the dumping ground, which is very significant. This impacts other areas too. We will save money. Even vehicles will not have to make so many trips to the landfill, which means you are cutting emissions. Look at the many-pronged advantages de-centralisation will bring."

As the leaders departed, authorities and clean energy advocates claimed that catchphrases like zero waste to landfill sound good but are meaningful only when practised, "by all at ground level. Environmental awareness is not some esoteric concept and domain of a few, but the responsibility of everyone. These projects bring that awareness right to the doorstep," signed off Zaveri.

Inauguration spree

In the run-up to the civic elections next year, cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray has been on an inauguration spree. After launching several vaccine camps across the city, the minister, who holds environment, tourism and protocol portfolios, has inaugurated three BMC projects in the past two days. While he launched the Mahim beach revamp on Thursday, a viewing gallery work at Girgaon Chowpatty was inaugurated by him on Friday along with a waste-to-energy plant. The viewing gallery will come up at the northern end of Girgaon Chowpatty in the ‘D' ward. Civic officials said it will offer a "unique and captivating" view of the sea and Marine Drive.