AP’s Madanapalle Advances Towards Zero Waste City Goal Through Scientific Waste Management
Madanapalle, July 27 (TNT): Madanapalle Municipality in Andhra Pradesh is transforming its urban sanitation system through scientific waste management, resource recovery and sustainable practices under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, with a focus on developing the town into a Zero Waste City.
Facing challenges arising from rapid urbanisation and increasing waste generation, the municipality has adopted an integrated solid waste management model based on source segregation, scientific processing, recycling and reuse of resources.
Madanapalle generates around 62 tonnes per day (TPD) of municipal solid waste, comprising 25.50 TPD dry waste, 36 TPD wet waste and 0.50 TPD domestic hazardous waste.
A systematic segregation mechanism has been implemented across the town, with waste categorised into biodegradable, non-biodegradable and upcycling streams for effective processing and disposal.
The municipality has focused on decentralised management of biodegradable waste.
Bulk Waste Generators are being encouraged to adopt on-site composting, while residents are being promoted to take up home composting and terrace gardening.
Nearly 15.50 tonnes of wet waste is processed daily through windrow composting at the municipal compost yard, producing around 4.65 tonnes of compost used for parks, plantations and gardening activities. Around 3 tonnes of wet waste is also processed daily through vermicomposting, generating nearly 1.20 tonnes of nutrient-rich compost.
Dry waste management has been strengthened through doorstep segregation into recyclable and non-recyclable categories.
Recyclable materials are processed at the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and sent to authorised recycling units, while non-recyclable waste is transported to cement factories for co-processing.
Through door-to-door collection drives and the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (RRR) Centre, the municipality collects e-waste, old clothes, books, toys and footwear, which are repaired, reused or redistributed among vulnerable communities, including slum residents, homeless persons and old age homes.
The municipality has also introduced waste-to-art initiatives using discarded materials, including tyre waste, to beautify public spaces and spread awareness on sustainable waste practices.
Madanapalle has successfully remediated nearly 36,512 metric tonnes of legacy waste through bio-mining and bio-remediation, reclaiming around 9.40 acres of land.
Nearly 5 acres of the reclaimed area has been developed into green spaces through plantation activities.
Recovered materials such as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) are being sent to cement plants for co-processing, while soil and inert materials recovered during remediation are being reused for filling low-lying areas.
The municipality has also converted public spaces into cleanliness awareness platforms through wall paintings and murals promoting waste segregation and hygiene.
The Waste-to-Art Park at NVR Layout showcases creative reuse of discarded materials and highlights the importance of sustainable urban practices.
With a combination of scientific waste processing, legacy waste remediation, recycling initiatives and community participation, Madanapalle is steadily moving towards becoming a Zero Dump and Zero Littering City, in line with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
TNT TS
