‘Decentralised waste processing could save BMC 1,485cr annually’

According to the Praja report, decentralised waste processingcould save BMC Rs 1,485 crore annually, including Rs 883 crore spent each year on transporting waste from 24 wards to landfills and Rs 602 crore incurred for operations and maintenance at Kanjurmarg landfill.

In 2024, Mumbai generated nearly 24.4 lakh metric tonnes of waste — 6,656 MT per day.As per the report, Mumbai generates about 6,300 MT of waste per day and each ward transports its waste an average of 20km to reach the landfill, at a cost of Rs 8 per MT/km. With 24 wards, the total distance travelled daily adds up to 480km, which means transporting 1 MT of waste costs Rs 3,840 per day, which works out to Rs 2.4 crore a day for 6,300MT and Rs 883 crore annually.

In addition, the operations and maintenance (O&M) cost at Kanjurmarg landfill — where most of the waste is sent — is Rs 3,000/MT.

The landfill receives around 5,500 MT of waste every day, translating to nearly 20.1 lakh MT annually at a cost of Rs 602 crore. Together, the transport and O&M costs add up to Rs 1,485 crore a year. The report suggested that this amount could be saved if the waste is handled and treated locally within wards. tnn