Mumbai is to develop a major compressed biogas facility at Mankhurd that will convert segregated organic waste into renewable fuel, following the signing of a concession agreement between the city's civic administration and its urban gas distribution utility.
The Mumbai Compressed Biogas Project will process up to 350 tonnes of biodegradable waste per day in its first phase, drawing primarily on waste from hotels, vegetable markets and commercial kitchens.
The facility will use anaerobic digestion to produce compressed biogas for use as an alternative fuel in transport and industrial applications.
The project reflects a growing trend across Indian cities of treating biodegradable municipal waste as an economic resource rather than a disposal problem.
Mumbai generates large volumes of municipal solid waste daily, with organic material accounting for a substantial proportion.
Despite improvements in collection infrastructure, biodegradable waste continues to place pressure on landfill capacity and contributes to methane emissions when left untreated.
Efficient operation of the facility will depend on consistent supplies of clean, source-segregated organic waste, making participation from commercial and institutional waste generators a key factor.
Urban planners have noted that processing infrastructure of this kind needs to be supported by stronger public awareness campaigns, improved collection systems and enforcement of segregation requirements to deliver its full potential.
