State’s First Green Waste Processing Plant To Come Up In Bhopal; To Produce Biomass Briquettes From Green Garbage

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In a significant step towards sustainable waste management, Bhopal is set to become home to Madhya Pradesh’s first green waste processing plant.

Established by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), the project, with an estimated cost of Rs 8 crore, will operate under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, focusing on producing biomass briquettes, a biofuel, from green waste.

According to BMC officials, the plant will address the growing green waste problem of the city, which currently generates around five tonnes of such waste daily. Currently, there is no proper disposal system in place for this type of waste, posing a challenge for the civic body.

Officials added that the BMC’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has floated the proposal and has already begun the search for a suitable location.

Under the PPP model, the selected private company will bear the entire cost of the project, while the BMC will provide the land and the green waste collected from across the city.

The corporation will also support the marketing and distribution of the final products. One of the major prospective buyers of the biomass briquettes is the Sanchi Milk Union, which could become a key revenue source.

Biodegradable items from green waste

Another facility is being set up nearby to produce biodegradable products from green waste, including wood, flowers, and leaves. This plant, operated by Astronomical Industries PrivateLimited, is also being developed in PPP mode. While Bhopal generates about five tonnes of green waste daily, Indore produces approximately 30 tonnes, indicating scope for expansion. 

Project to begin in month

BMC Commissioner Harendra Narayan said to the Free Press that the tender process has already been completed and the project is expected to begin within a month. “The plant will help reduce the burden of green waste in the city and will also be a source of income through royalties,” he added. Officials are also planning a visit to Chandigarh, where a similar plant is already operational, to study its functioning.

What are Biomass briquettes?

Produced from green waste,biomass briquettes are an eco-friendly fuel alternative with the potential to replace charcoal. These briquettes are used for cooking, in industries for heating, and for generating electricity. They release significantly fewer harmful gases compared to coal or wood, making them both environmentally and economically viable.