Lucknow Achieves Milestone in Waste Management with New Plant
Lucknow, the bustling capital of Uttar Pradesh, has made a significant stride towards urban sustainability with the inauguration of the Shivari Solid Waste Management Plant. This newly launched facility enables the city to become the first in Uttar Pradesh to achieve complete scientific processing of municipal solid waste, fulfilling its commitment to the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and marking a remarkable milestone as a ‘zero fresh waste dump’ city.
With a population nearing 40 lakh and approximately 7.5 lakh establishments, Lucknow faces intense challenges in waste management. The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has adopted a comprehensive strategy that emphasizes scientific waste disposal and resource recovery, aiming to improve environmental quality and public health throughout the growing urban center.
Capacity and Efficiency of Waste Processing
The Shivari Plant operates with an impressive processing capacity of 700 metric tonnes per day. Combined with the city’s two existing plants, the LMC can now scientifically manage the entire daily waste generation of over 2,100 metric tonnes, effectively eliminating open dumping practices. This forward-thinking approach reflects a strong commitment to sustainable urban waste management.
Daily, Lucknow generates around 2,000 metric tonnes of waste, which is efficiently processed at the three waste facilities established by LMC and Bhumi Green Energy. Of the waste, 55% is organic and 45% is inorganic. The organic waste is transformed into compost and biogas, while the inorganic portion is sorted for recycling or converted into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for use in industries like cement and paper. The city has seen its door-to-door waste collection efficiency rise to a notable 96.53%, with source segregation exceeding 70%.
Transforming Legacy Waste and Producing Valuable By-products
According to the Municipal Corporation, out of approximately 18.5 lakh metric tons of legacy waste in Lucknow, around 12.86 lakh metric tons have been scientifically processed. The valuable by-products generated from this waste include RDF, C&D waste, bio-soil, and coarse fractions, which are utilized in various eco-friendly applications such as recycling and low-land filling.
Significantly, about 2.27 lakh metric tonnes of RDF has been dispatched to industries across India for co-processing in cement and paper manufacturing. Additionally, inert materials, including 4.38 lakh MT of coarse fractions and 0.59 lakh MT of bio-soil, have been repurposed for landfilling and infrastructure projects.
Future Plans for Waste-to-Energy Plant
The LMC is also gearing up to establish a Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant at Shivari, where RDF will be converted into electricity. This proposed facility aims to produce 15 MW of power, utilizing 1,000 to 1,200 metric tons of RDF daily, which will significantly reduce transportation costs and distances to cement plants located almost 500 km away.
Lucknow’s innovative waste management model exemplifies a commitment to circular economy principles. By maximizing resource recovery and minimizing legacy waste, the initiatives of the LMC serve as a source of inspiration for other cities across India and beyond. The journey toward a cleaner and greener urban environment continues as Lucknow embraces the vision of a sustainable future.
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