MP’s maiden green waste processing project to come up at Bhopal

Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) will establish Madhya Pradesh’s first green waste processing plant in the capital city of Bhopal. It will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with an investment of Rs 8 crore.

The facility will focus on converting green waste into biomass briquettes which is an eco-friendly fuel alternative.

Today, Bhopal alone produces nearly five tonnes of green waste daily, with no dedicated mechanism for its scientific disposal. The new waste processing plant aims to address this gap by processing organic waste such as leaves, branches, and plant trimmings into biomass briquettes, which can replace traditional fuels like charcoal and coal.

The proposal, initiated by the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) cell of the city corporation, has reached the tendering stage. The site identification is already underway. The selected private partner will finance the entire project, while the BMC will provide land as well as a regular supply of green waste collected from across the city.

Moreover, the municipal body will assist in the marketing and distribution of the final product. A key prospective buyer of these biomass briquettes is the Sanchi Milk Union, potentially offering a consistent revenue stream for the initiative.

Biomass briquettes are compact blocks made from organic waste that serve as a renewable fuel source. They can be used for cooking, industrial heating, and electricity generation. Compared to coal or wood, briquettes emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases, making them a cleaner and more sustainable option for energy needs.

BMC Commissioner Harendra Narayan held that the tender process has been completed and the project will commence within a month. The plant will not only ease the burden of green waste on the city but also generate income through royalty earnings to the civic body.

Adjacent to this facility, another plant is being developed by Astronomical Industries Private Limited, also under the PPP model. This unit will manufacture biodegradable products using green waste, including discarded wood, flowers, and leaves. The venture is expected to complement the briquette plant by diversifying the end-use of the city’s organic waste.

In a novel initiative, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) had previously launched ‘Golden Leaf Movement’ where fallen leaves throughout the city are collected to make compost and get rid of burning of leaves.