From burning for 13 days to processing 4.10 lakh tonnes; remarkable transformation of Brahmapuram waste treatment plant

KOCHI: The Brahmapuram waste treatment plant, which was the largest and dirtiest in Kerala, has been converted into a marvel in a year and a half. This was caused by the fire in the garbage dumps in 2023 that suffocated Kochi for 13 days. Brahmapuram, which was a hotbed of corruption and disregard, was transformed by the government and the Kochi Corporation together.

No need to cover noses. There are no garbage dumps. There is no plastic waste, only organic waste. 110 acres of land filled with garbage is turning green. The construction of the roads is nearing completion. Cameras of Kochi Smart Mission to monitor everything.

NIT Kozhikode had reported 10.5 lakh cubic metres of waste in Brahmapuram. Of this, 4.10 lakh tonnes have been processed. Two lakh tonnes of buried waste should be retrieved and the land should be reclaimed. Biomining for this will be completed in May. The plant can treat 3,000 tonnes of waste per day. The waste will be classified into rubber, plastic and metal. Those that cannot be recycled will be converted into refused derived fuel (RDF). 41,504 tonnes of RDF has been removed. Since biomining began, there have been no fires despite the onset of summer.

Hermetia illucens
There are two organic waste treatment plants with a capacity of 50 tonnes that use black soldier fly (BSF) larvae (Hermetia illucens). The corporation is trying to make it 100 tonnes. The larvae feed on organic waste and turn it into fertilizers in 10 days. A 50-tonne windrow compost plant will also be set up.

CBG Plant
With the setting up of the Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant, the situation will improve further. The 73-crore project is being implemented by BPCL, a public sector undertaking. When the plant is completed in March

150 tonnes of organic waste will be treated per day. 5.6 tonnes of CBG and 28 tonnes of organic manure will be produced from this. The CBG will be used by Kochi Refinery. A windrow plant with a capacity to process 50 tonnes will also be set up.

"Brahmapuram is changing drastically. People's fears have also begun to subside. The fire situation has disappeared. A new RDF plant will also be set up.

Adv. M. Anil Kumar

Kochi Mayor