Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat has inaugurated a new facility in Kemral, Mulky taluk that converts non‑recyclable dry waste into energy pellets. The plant will produce two tonnes daily, supplying fuel to industrial boilers and slashing transport costs and carbon emissions.
Key Takeaways
- The Kemral centre can produce 2 tonnes of energy pellets each day.
- Pellets will be used as boiler fuel in local industries, reducing waste transport costs by up to 60%.
- Funded with ₹4.8 million under Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), the project sets a replicable model for rural India.
Under the leadership of CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari, the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat has started a cutting‑edge centre in Kemral, Mulky taluk that transforms non‑recyclable dry waste into high‑calorific energy pellets. With a daily capacity of two tonnes, the pellets are destined for boilers at sugarcane factories and other industrial units across the district.
Why the Initiative Was Needed
Previously, dry waste such as discarded clothing, slippers, and single‑use plastic items were baled and shipped to cement plants in Belagavi and other parts of North Karnataka. Each truckload cost roughly ₹48,000, translating to about ₹3 per kilogram of waste. The Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) earmarked funds to curb this expense and the environmental toll of long‑distance transport.
How the Process Works
The centre was built through a partnership between the Zilla Panchayat, the Department of Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation, Puttur Taluk Panchayat, and Kemral Gram Panchayat. A total of ₹4.8 million was allocated to the project, covering the conversion of a former dry‑waste storage shed into a pellet‑production unit. Non‑recyclable waste is shredded, thermally processed, and compressed into dense pellets that a Pune‑based firm currently purchases at ₹5 per kilogram.
Economic and Environmental Impact
Four material recovery facilities (MRFs) in the region receive about 22 tonnes of dry waste daily, of which 60% is non‑recyclable. By converting this portion locally, the district eliminates the need for costly trucking, saving an estimated 60% in transportation expenses. Moreover, the pellets provide a cleaner-burning fuel alternative, reducing greenhouse‑gas emissions associated with traditional waste disposal.
Scaling the Model Nationwide
Experts argue that the Kemral model could be replicated across India’s vast rural landscape, aligning with the nation’s waste‑to‑energy targets. With additional state‑level funding and technology partnerships, similar centres could turn millions of tonnes of dry waste into valuable energy, strengthening both the circular economy and energy security.
