Solid waste mgmt: Civic body encourages industry to use refuse-derived fuel in units

Taking another step forward for improving solid waste management in the city, the Municipal Corporation (MC) conducted a meeting with industry representatives to encourage them to use refuse-derived fuel RDF in their respective industrial units.

The meeting was held by MC Joint Commissioner Inderpal at the MC’s Zone A office on Tuesday and owners of around 20 industrial units participated in it. Chief sanctuary inspectors (CSI), Community Development Officers (CDOs) and community facilitators (CFs) were among those present in the meeting.

The civic body officials said the meeting was held under the guidance of the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).

The owners of industrial units were encouraged to use at least 5 per cent of the RDF in their respective units. The representatives showed willingness to adopt the RDF and sought a few clarifications regarding the same.

The RDF is a fuel produced from various types of waste such as municipal solid waste, industrial or commercial waste.

MC Joint Commissioner Inderpal said the meeting was held on the directions of MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi. The initiative aims to promote sustainable practices and reduce environmental pollution. The RDF, which is produced at the main dumpsite of the MC, would be provided to the industry by the civic body. More such meetings would be held in coming days to encourage the industrial representatives to use RDF in their industrial units.

The MC Commissioner said steps were being taken to improve solid waste management in the city and public/industry should also support the civic body in the same. He also appealed to residents to hand over segregated dry and wet waste to garbage collectors, so that refuse could be disposed of in an efficient manner.