Electricity From Plastic Waste

Question by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel, M.K. Vishnu Prasad, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah

Question

1. whether the Government has taken note of increasing plastic waste in the country; and if so, the details thereof;
2. whether the Government has fixed any target for generating electricity from plastic waste, including other organic and inorganic residue and if so, the details thereof; and
3. whether the Government has made any special scheme for generating electricity through alternate methods in Bundelkhand/Uttarakhand and if so, the details thereof?

Answer by:The Minister of State (IC) for New & Renewable Energy, Power and MoS for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(R.K. Singh)

• The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has notified Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 for environmentally sound management of plastic waste and to prevent plastic pollution in the country. The Ministry has also issued “Standard Guidelines for Single-Use Plastic” on 21st January 2019 to all States/UTs and Ministries. The guidelines entail waste management system improvements, legal options for states/UTs to prohibit Single-Use Plastic items through regulatory measures, eco-friendly alternatives, social awareness and public education.
• The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy is implementing a “Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial, Agricultural Wastes/Residues and Municipal Solid Waste” in the country including Bundelkhand/Uttarakhand, for recovery of energy in the form of Biogas or Bio-CNG or Power from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Waste / Residues.
• The Ministry has set following targets for generation of power under the programme:
• oSetting up of cumulative installed capacity of 200MW for generation of electricity from Municipal Solid Waste(MSW) where MSW fed into incinerator should be of non-biodegradable, non-recyclable, non-reusable, non-hazardous solid waste having minimum calorific value exceeding 1500 kcal/kg and excluding chlorinated materials like plastic, wood pulp, etc.