Corp to supply non-recyclable solid waste to cement industry

20 November 2017

In Thiruvananthapuram, the city corporation is tapping the possibilities of supplying non-recyclable solid waste as alternate fuel to the cement industry to deal with soaring quantity of plastic, used mattresses and other kinds of waste which are neither recycled nor subjected to composting.

The civic body has finalized the proposal to supply such solid waste which could be converted into refuse derived fuel in cement kilns. Two firms in cement industry, which are based in Tamil Nadu, have expressed interest in the project.

“As per the latest talks, we are planning to supply the rejects at a cost of Rs 5,500 per tonne. Once the pact is finalized, we would start collecting solid waste for cement kilns at our collection centres just like we are collecting plastic carry bags and glass bottles,” said an official with the health wing.

The civic body has mooted the project riding on the guidelines issued by the central pollution control board on co-processing of plastic waste in cement Kilns. Co-processing is regarded as an environmentally friendly and sustainable method of waste disposal as compared to land filling and incineration because of reduced emissions and no residue after the treatment. Co-processing refers to the use of waste materials in industrial processes as alternative fuels or raw material (AFR) to recover energy and material from them.

Due to the high temperature in cement kiln, different types of waste can be effectively disposed without harmful emissions.

Alexander Koshi, a city-based cement industry consultant, said that cement manufacturing is a large-scale industrial process with high energy consumption and a potential for co-processing of high quantities of AFR.

“Thermal substitution of coal with waste up to 40% in one-million-tonne cement plant will reduce the carbon dioxide emission by 100,000 tonnes. This model also saves money as there is no need to invest in incinerators or land-fills to dispose the hazardous waste being generated,” said Koshi.

Source: TOI