Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) has signed an agreement with Dalmia Cement Limited to transport an additional 200 to 250 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) daily to the company’s cement plant in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, a move expected to ease pressure on landfills.
BSWML reported that waste segregation at source has improved across the city, leading to increased collection of low-value plastic waste, also known as RDF. The improvement is credited to the agency’s extensive Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) programmes, which have raised public awareness and participation in waste segregation.
Currently, Bengaluru generates and collects around 350 to 400 tonnes of RDF each day. About 100 to 150 tonnes are transported daily to the waste-to-energy plant near Bidadi. With the new partnership, an additional 200 to 250 tonnes will go to Dalmia Cement’s Kadapa unit. On the first day of operations under this arrangement, 160 tonnes of RDF were dispatched to the cement plant. Dalmia Cement has committed to accepting up to 1,000 tonnes of RDF per day from BSWML.
Besides environmental benefits, the agreement will provide financial gains to BSWML. Dalmia Cement will grant Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) credits to BSWML for the RDF it utilises, further supporting the city’s waste management initiatives.
