Chennai: In a first, the Chennai Corporation is set to start a bio-mining operation in Athipattu dump yard in Ambattur as the local body looks to remediate the land. The corporation will start the process as a pilot by segregating historical waste at the site into small portions before processing them.
“We will start the testing phase in a fortnight’s time. We will start in smaller quantities, for instance, 100 tonnes or so and separate the waste to specific materials," said an official.
Bio mining is a process where previously dumped waste is dug up after loosening by harrowing and then processed in a bid to recover valuable recyclable scrap while also recovering landfill space.
“This will be extended to the entire dump yard. Based on the results from the initial testing, the project will be placed before the council for approval,” the official added.
Officials said that machinery would be temporarily set up within the dump yard premises. Waste of different sizes will be separated using a trommel screen. Electro-magnetic waste will be separated on a conveyor belt while a blower filters away plastic waste.
The end product, likely to be mud waste, will be rid of toxic materials and as such becomes reusable. Similar initiatives were adopted in Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai.
