Dhangadhi to operate waste management centre

By Our Correspondent,Dhangadhi, Feb. 24: A waste management centre, called “Waste to Energy Project”, has been constructed in Kailai district.   

Built at Behdi, in the southern part of Dhangadhi Sub Metropolitan City -2 of the district at a cost of Rs. 208.4 million, the centre will process decomposable waste.  

Ashok Awasthi, head of garbage management and sanitation branch of the sub-metropolis, said that the waste management center was built in a tripartite investment. According to him, Dhangadhi Sub Metropolitan City has provided land for waste management facilities, the Asian Development Bank Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (ADBAEPC) has invested 40 per cent of the construction cost while Ravin Kant Pant, the owner of a private firm, Dev FarmHouse, has invested 60 per cent. Awasthi informed that the private firm would operate the waste management centre for 20 years before handing it over to the Sub Metropolitan City in a functional state. 

The ABDAEPC and private operators have invested Rs.83.36 million and Rs.125 million respectively.

Awasthi said that the construction of the centre has been completed and is ready for operation. “We plan to bring the centre into operation from April.” 

Wastes generated from the municipality, agriculture activities, industries, and forests could be processed in the centre. While wastes from hospital and septic tank couldn’t be processed, those containing acids could be.  

Ravinkant Pant, the owner, said that 30 tonnes of wastes could be processed daily.  

He further said 100 cylinders of LPG gas could be produced everyday, along with 3.5 tonnes of compost and 1.5 liquid fertilisers by processing 30 tonnes of waste. About two tonnes of waste materials will be delivered by the municipality to the disposal facility on a daily basis. 

Dhangadhi Sub Metropolitan City, which has already launched a plastic-free campaign, has started collecting household and other wastes from settlements and markets.  The centre is said to need five tonnes of cow dung every day, with Bivek Poultry Farm deciding to provide three tonnes of chicken manure on a daily basis. 

According to him, there will be a trial period of the facility for one year. He said that the process of filling the digester with cow dung has reached the final stage as in the beginning the digester should be filled with animal dung.  

“Now the test production is set to start. Unless cow dung is processed first, it is not possible to put garbage in it. The operation of this waste management will turn waste into money,” said Pant. 

 “Besides, this will help keep the city area clean and odour-free.” 

According to the office of the city, if the processing plant of waste management centre was not filled with rotting garbage, the waste could be purchased from another district. It requires lots of waste materials. 

Similarly, Dhangadhi Sub Metropolitan City has made preparation to bring into operation a ‘Micro Segregation Centre’ in Ward No 3 for the management of non-biodegradable waste.  

Awasthi informed that among the total wastes collected, non-biodegradable ones like plastic, lead and bottles would be segregated, recycled and sold. 

“Apart from that, 10 to 15 per cent useless waste, which is going to be produced as by-product, will be dumped. Until an integrated waste management center is created, the non-biodegradable garbage will be managed in segregation centre,” Awasthi added. 

With the help of ABD, Dhangadhi Sub Metropolitan City has selected a place in Patella of Ward No 7 for the integrated waste management. 

A waste management centre, called “Waste to Energy Project”, has been constructed in Kailai district.