‘20,174 tonnes of residue waste still stored at Dugneri processing plant’

The affidavit came in response to a petition filed by Rita Sharma, a resident of the area, and others, who approached NGT, alleging “improper disposal of waste” by the municipal authorities. The matter is listed for hearing on Tuesday.

Residual or residue waste refers to non-hazardous material left behind after recycling or other waste management processes, often destined for landfills or energy recovery.

The NGT was informed that the Hamirpur Municipal Corporation had entered into an agreement with M/s Suntan Life for the clearance of legacy waste. While the original contract was extended until March 31 this year, it has now been extended to May 15.

“There are 68 bio-composting pits in use, and the compost produced is being sold to local farmers,” the affidavit read. “Excess wet waste is transported by the contractor to a bio-methanation facility in Ambala’s Jatwar. No fresh landfilling is being carried out, and the corporation is identifying suitable land for the disposal of inert waste.”

The affidavit further said that no incineration or plastic recycling is being conducted at the Hamirpur site. Final processing of organic waste is undertaken by M/s Suntan Life at Sarovar Agro Farms and Biogas Private Limited, Ambala, where it is converted into bio-gas and bio-manure, leaving no residual waste.

To handle fresh and legacy waste, the facility is equipped with a trommel, a weighbridge, a full set of compost pits, two baling machines and as many shredders and composting machines. Machinery for legacy waste includes a vibrator, separator, and excavator.

Legacy waste is first excavated, dried in windrows, then processed through mechanical separation and manual sorting before being sent for refuse-derived fuel (RDF) processing or recycling at facilities in Sonepat’s Kundli and Ambala’s Jatwar.

Only municipal solid waste is handled at the site — no hazardous, biomedical or e-waste being collected. Non-biodegradable waste is segregated and transported by the contractor for appropriate disposal. Construction and demolition (C&D) waste is also managed, and the corporation is finalising a new disposal site. Waste classified as RDF is transported out of state for further utilisation, and no special permissions are required under current regulations, the affidavit read.