KOCHI: Kochi city is planning to play its role in controlling global warming and climate change and earning carbon credits through the ‘methane to market’ project.
The project aims to tap the methane gas released from the landfill sites and market it to neighbouring industrial units to address their energy needs.
The gas tapped from the site could be used to run the Corporation-owned solid waste treatment plant, which would bring considerable economic benefits. It is estimated that around 40 per cent of the energy needs of the plant could be met with the methane gas. The tapping of the gas would improve the air quality, remove the unpleasant odour and generate employment opportunities, it has been pointed out.
The project would get the support of the Government of India, World health Organisation and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The Representatives of the Corporation of Kochi attended a workshop at Ahmedabad last week in connection with the project. Indian cities with 10 lakh plus population were invited for the workshop. Ahmedabad was selected as the venue of the workshop as the City Corporation had moved in this direction.
The project would go a long way in controlling the green house gas emission.
Carbon dioxide and methane are the important green house gases that contribute to global warming and climate change. It is estimated that methane constitutes around 50 per cent of the gas that is released from the landfill sites. Methane is considered as 20 per cent more potent than Carbon dioxide in causing environmental hazards. If methane is not tapped, it will burn in landfill sites causing more environmental pollution, authorities said.
The details of the waste generation and processing mechanism including the landfill project of the Kochi City were handed over to the Central authorities at the workshop. An expert committee will soon assess the scope for the project in Kochi, civic authorities said.
It would be the landfill site at Brahmapuram that will become the testing ground for this green initiative of the civic body.
The Corporation owns around 25 acres and has Rs. 30 crore in hand for the landfill project.
It is estimated that the present site would be sufficient for the landfill needs of the city for another three decades.