2024.07. 25 (Vrindavan Today News): The Mathura Vrindavan Municipal Corporation is successfully transforming the negligent disposal of organic and plastic waste into a lucrative venture.
It is actively preparing compost daily to manage approximately 300 metric tons of waste generated in the city. At the Nagla Kolhu plant, more than six tons of compost are produced daily, which is then sold for agricultural purposes. According to the Municipal sources, the demand for this compost is steadily increasing.
Furthermore, the plant has achieved self-sufficiency by using fuel derived from single-use plastics found in waste. Operational activities at the plant are now fueled by this innovative source. The initiative includes an ongoing campaign by the municipal corporation to ban single-use plastics, despite partial success in completely prohibiting polyethylene usage. Continuous public awareness drives are being conducted to support this initiative.
As part of the campaign, Mathura Vrindavan Nagar Nigam has deployed 25 ragpickers to collect polyethylene and plastic from waste. These ragpickers gather these materials throughout the day, ensuring they reach the Nagla Kolhu plant. At the plant, plastic and polyethylene are recycled into fuel at the Plastic-to-Fuel Plant, producing approximately 1,000 liters of fuel from five tons of banned materials. Last year alone, revenue from this fuel production amounted to six lakh rupees, with ongoing growth anticipated.
The fuel produced is utilized by industrial units, contributing significantly to their operations. Presently, the plant’s produced fuel is being incorporated into its operational processes, providing industrial units with fuel at a rate of Rs. 50 per liter. Additionally, Mathura city generates about 300 metric tons of wet waste daily, from which 5 to 6 tons of compost are produced daily. This compost is made available to farmers at a rate of Rs. 311 per ton, earning the municipal corporation approximately six lakh rupees annually.
From environmental conservation perspective, this initiative has not only mitigated pollution but also significantly bolstered the corporation’s income. It should be noted that the footfall of the visitors has significantly increased in Vrindavan and Mathura, who left their trashes behind. It has always been a challenge to manage the waste, particularly the legacy waste. The intitiatives taken by the Mathura Municipal Commissioner Shri Shashank Chaudhary has minimized the waste at the garbage recylcing plants and ensured that the garbage is sent to the designated sites for collection.
Then National Green Tribunal had passed several directions earlier to manage the city’s waste, which is being successuly complied with.
