CPCB orders real-time monitoring at waste-to-energy plants, landfills

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued fresh directives to all state pollution control boards and committees where by it has mandated the installation of Online Continuous Emission and Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) at waste-to-energy plants and sanitary landfill sites.

In an official order, the CPCB has instructed states to submit ‘action taken reports’ on the status of waste-to-energy units by August 18. The move aims to strengthen surveillance and ensure strict compliance with environmental standards across the country.

According to the guidelines, all operational and upcoming municipal solid waste incineration-based waste-to-energy plants must deploy OCEMS to enable real-time tracking of key pollutants. The pollutants to be tracked include particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide.

Similarly, both waste-to-energy plants and landfill sites will be required to monitor treated leachate using OCEMS, tracking critical water quality parameters such as pH, total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammoniacal nitrogen and fluoride.

In addition, the CPCB has made it compulsory for sanitary landfill sites to install surveillance cameras at entry and exit points as well as inside active operational areas. This measure is intended to curb illegal dumping and enhance transparency in waste management practices.

The scientific management of solid waste is being emphasised across India and urban local bodies are striving strongly towards the aim. Recently, Nomura Research has found that big cities like Delhi should focus on compressed biogas projects to