Come June, city’s first C&D processing plants to recycle construction and demolition debris into paver blocks, precast

In Mumbai–where huge numbers of infrastructure and construction works are unfolding–the C&D waste is primarily collected through the ‘debris on call’ initiative wherein citizens call the civic body to collect the waste.

Besides this, the BMC also collects unclaimed heaps of debris discarded across the city. Meanwhile, other bulk generators of debris are construction projects such as metro worksites.

According to senior officials from the BMC, upon becoming operational, the processing units–each spanning up to 5 acres–will initially be treating unclaimed debris as well as the waste collected by the civic body as a part of their ‘debris on call’ drive.

Speaking to the Indian Express, an official said, “Each plant has the capacity to treat 600 metric tonnes of waste daily. Currently, all the C&D waste is used to cover the dumping ground. But now, at these centres, we will be treating this waste. After processing through washing, crushing etc., the waste will be created into aggregates of different sizes. This aggregate can be precast, made to use paver blocks, tiles and other material.”

Slated to become operational from June this year, the civic body has appointed a contractor for a period of 20 years, who will be entrusted with tasks ranging from collection, transportation as well as processing of the waste at the units.

While officials said that nearly Rs 1,000 crore will be spent on each of the plant over a course of 20 years, the civic body will be paying Rs 1,425 per tonne to the contractor appointed to manage the Dahisar unit while the contractor at Shilphata will be paid Rs 1,400 per tonne in the first year.

In its fiscal budget for the year 2024-25, the BMC has earmarked Rs 230 crores for the project.

The BMC in its Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan (MAPMP) has identified dust arising from construction sites and uncovered construction and demolition debris as one of the key factors contributing to the rising pollution levels in the megapolis.

In a bid to create awareness about the units, the civic body is slated to conduct programmes in the upcoming months, appealing citizens to deliver the C&D to these processing plants.