Biomining

• 20 Mar 2024

Recently, Delhi's Biomining project has been facing obstacles such as waste dumping and weather challenges, causing the project to miss its 2024 deadline.

Key Points

• Biomining involves the scientific process of excavating, treating, segregating, and utilizing aged municipal solid waste or legacy waste, following Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines.
• It is an environmentally friendly technique that separates soil and recyclables like plastic, metal, paper, textiles, Construction & Demolition waste materials, and other solid materials from legacy waste, targeting valuable metals such as copper, uranium, nickel, and gold in sulfur-bearing minerals.
• The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 now mandate bio-mining legacy waste instead of 'capping', which involves covering the waste with soil, promoting an approach that includes zero emissions and leaves near-zero residues.
• Biomining offers considerable benefits, such as reducing soil pollution, soil contamination, and groundwater contamination, supporting a cleaner and safer environment.