MAPUSA
Designed to cater to 27 local bodies along the coastal belt of North Goa, the Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF) located in Saligao has emerged as a beacon of effective waste management since its establishment in May 2016.
The facility has been instrumental in treating an average of 240 to 260 tonnes of waste per day, totalling a remarkable 4.1 lakh tonnes of solid waste processed up to February 2024.
Originally intended to handle 100 tonnes per day (TPD) of waste, the facility's capacity was later enhanced to 250 TPD.
Moreover, it doesn't stop at waste treatment; the SWMF generates approximately 25,000 units of electricity daily, with a cumulative production of around 280 lakh units since its inception.
Impressively, 14,000 units per day of this electricity are exported to the State electricity grid.
Additionally, the facility produces 8 TPD of compost from the organic fraction of waste, while approximately 25 percent of recyclables are recovered each day.
Notably, around 1.57 lakh tonnes of Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) have been supplied to cement plants, showcasing the facility's commitment to resource recovery and sustainability.
Operated by M/s Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd, the SWMF employs approximately 80 workers across three shifts, offering formal employment and monthly salaries to informal rag-pickers or unemployed individuals.
The facility prides itself on maintaining clean and hygienic working conditions, ensuring the well-being of its employees.
The SWMF's impact extends beyond waste management; it has also revitalised the surrounding natural environment.
Built on a remediated 20-year-old waste dump spanning 73,198 sq. mtrs, the facility has restored greenery and attracted diverse wildlife, including birds and butterflies.
Managing Director of Goa Waste Management Corporation, Levinson Martins described the project as a “Brown-field project,” emphasising its transformation from a contaminated site to a pristine natural haven.
“The project site which was an abandoned quarry site and later used as a waste dumping site for over 25 years was totally contaminated and degraded. With the construction of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility, the land was recovered and restored to its pristine natural condition. The facility is one of its kind Brown-field project in the country,” said Martins, who has been recently transferred and posted as Commissioner of Labour and Employment.
Moreover, the facility has become a hub for industrial visits, drawing attention from both domestic and international visitors.
“Students from various institutes in India and people also from abroad visit the waste treatment plant. We also conduct sessions to such students to explain the functioning of the unique facility,” Martins added.
Its success story underscores the importance of investing in state-of-the-art waste management infrastructure and implementing environmentally sustainable practices.
