GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

"Developing a National Master Waste-to-Energy Plan"

Can India adopt cost-effective and technically sound policies for pollution control in its country — and generate bio-energy from different wastes?

The National Bio Energy Board, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources and the Government of India have retained MWH to help them achieve this goal.

Working with this group, MWH is developing a "National Master Plan (NMP) for Waste-to-Energy" for the nation.

Currently, the majority of India's urban municipal and industrial waste receives either no treatment or only partial treatment before its final disposal. This practice is leading to severe environmental problems, including water, ground and air pollution. At the same time, these inadequate waste collection and treatment controls are affecting human health.

MWH's waste-to-energy master plan will not only address India's environmental challenges. It also will generate valuable energy from the nation's waste in a cost-effective and technically sound manner.

Optimal Bio-Energy Recovery

MWH's master plan is an integral component of a large biomethanation project for India's National Bio Energy Board. This organization is implementing a National Program on Energy Recovery from Urban, Municipal and Industrial Wastes.

The waste-to-energy program is assisted by the United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF). This group is providing support for the development of high rate biomethanation processes that could reduce India's greenhouse gas emissions.

India produces an extremely diverse range of organic waste material that would be appropriate for bio-methanogenic degradation. The UNDP/GEF-assisted effort will lead to the establishment of several large waste-to-energy demonstration areas in different regions of the nation on a variety of waste streams.

MWH's Master Plan will address cost effective treatment and stabilization of urban and industrial waste with optimal bio-energy recovery and efficient power production for Class I and Class II cities throughout India.

MWH's Master Plan incorporates:

• A wide array of bio-solid collection methods
• Advanced thermal treatment and other methods
• High rate biomethanation
• Energy recovery
• Bio-solids disposal and utilization technologies

It will also consider project funding sources, as well as implementation, operation and maintenance issues.

Multiple Benefits

The benefits to India's effort are many.

They range from long-term cost savings and stricter global pollution controls, to socio-economic improvements and reductions in emission of dangerous Green House Gases (GHG).

Advanced thermal conversion and biomethanation of organic wastes will help India play a larger role in protecting the global and local environments for generations to come. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.