Trichy Corporation initiates Bio-CNG plant tender

Trichy Corporation has initiated steps to address the persistent issue of solid waste recycling by releasing a tender for the construction of a 100TPD bio-CNG (compressed natural gas) plant in Ariyamangalam, costing Rs 300.7 million. The local body intends to engage a contractor through public-private partnership (PPP) to build the plant, aimed at generating biogas from waste collected from residential and commercial establishments. According to officials, the plant will be established under the design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) mode, and after 20 years, the concessionaire will hand over the assets to the local body. On average, the city produces 450-470 tonne of waste daily. As the biomining process to reclaim the Ariyamangalam dump yard approaches completion, the corporation proposes a biogas plant as a lasting solution for recycling vegetables, food, meat, and other organic waste. The selected contractor will be responsible for producing and packaging the bio-CNG in a suitable form for various commercial purposes, including its use as a fuel in transportation vehicles. The corporation commits to providing segregated waste to ensure the production of high-quality biogas. The biogas plan will eliminate the necessity for a dump yard, leading to an improvement in the city's air quality by reducing waste burning. The civic body anticipates identifying a contractor by May and plans to utilise 2-3 acres of land within the reclaimed space of the Ariyamangalam dump yard for the plant. Additionally, for processing non-biodegradable waste like glass, metal, rubber, and plastic, officials mentioned the intention to establish a material recovery facility (MRF) for selling them to scrap dealers and factories for reuse.