About: Waste-to-energy (WtE) plants convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into energy in the form of electricity, heat, or fuel through various technologies like pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion etc. 

• It also generates Biogas/ BioCNG/Syngas from urban, industrial and agricultural wastes/residues. 

Related Provisions in SWM Rules, 2016:  

• Utilization of Non-Recyclable Waste: Waste with a calorific value of 1500 Kcal/kg or more must be used for energy generation and cannot be disposed of in landfills. 
  • High-calorific waste should be co-processed in cement or thermal power plants. 
• Mandatory Use of RDF: Industrial units using fuel and located within 100 km of a solid waste-based Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) plant must replace at least 5% of their fuel with RDF. 
  • RDF is made from municipal and industrial waste by removing non-combustibles, leaving plastics, paper, textiles, and biomass. 

Methods of WtE Conversion: 

• Incineration: Waste is burned at ultra-high temperatures, producing heat that generates steam to spin turbines and create electricity.  
• Gasification: Biomass is processed at high temperatures without combustion to produce syngas, which serves as fuel for electricity generation or industrial use. 
• Anaerobic Digestion: Microorganisms break down organic waste in an oxygen-free environment, producing biogas rich in methane. 
• Fermentation and Distillation: Organic biomass is fermented and distilled to produce ethanol, an alternative fuel for engines. 
• Pyrolysis: A thermo-chemical process that converts waste into clean liquid fuels (bio-oil, syngas, and char) under high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. 
• Landfill Gas Recovery: Methane and other gases released from landfills are captured through wells using blowers and vacuums, then treated for energy production. 

Significance

• Utilization of Waste: Converts waste into heat and electricity, reducing the need for fossil fuels. 
• Reduction in Landfilling: Reduces landfill waste and related environmental risks like emissions, land use, and groundwater contamination. 
• Resource Recovery: Enables metal recovery after incineration and retains valuable materials in the circular economy. 
• Reduction in GHG Emissions: Landfills produce methane emissions, a potent Greenhouse Gas (GHG) while waste-to-energy reduces them by diverting waste.