Trichy: The Trichy City Corporation has sanctioned four acres of land in Panjapur to establish a construction and demolition (C&D) waste recycling plant with a capacity to process 50 tonnes of debris daily. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) has been formed jointly by the local body and a private environmental resource management company to mobilize Rs 8 crore for the project, which will be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Project Details and Location
The recycling unit will collect demolition waste from residents and real estate developers to produce value-added construction materials, including paver blocks and hollow bricks. Initially, Ariyamangalam was proposed for the plant, but due to public outcry, it has been shifted to the sewage treatment plant (STP) site in Panjapur. A preliminary study indicated that Trichy city may generate a minimum of 250 tonnes of construction waste daily. As old properties are demolished and renovated, the demand for a C&D recycling unit is expected to increase further.
Machinery and Process
Officials stated that the C&D plant will feature machinery to segregate debris into concrete, whole bricks, mixed demolition waste, wood, steel, plastic, and bituminous materials. Concrete and mixed demolition waste will be filtered and crushed to produce fine sand, coarse sand, and gravel. If needed, byproducts will be washed, and cement along with other materials added to manufacture interlocked bricks and paver blocks.
Radhakrishnan T R Aiyyer, CEO of Aiyyer Environment Resource Management, which is part of the SPV, said, "We will allow market demand to dictate our requirements. Based on need, value-added products from recycled debris will be produced. The plant will become operational before November 2026."
Operations and Revenue Model
The recycling plant is expected to handle approximately 1,500 tonnes of construction waste per month. A weighbridge will be installed at the Panjapur facility. The local body is likely to pay a tipping fee of about Rs 640 per tonne to the waste management company operating the plant. The site has been handed over to the firm, and the Trichy corporation will develop four collection points across the city where residents can hand over debris.
"The waste management firm will collect and transport debris to the recycling unit at its own expense. Without a C&D recycling plant, illegal dumping of debris was worsening near water bodies. We will find a suitable revenue generation model to sell the recycled end products," said Mayor Mu Anbalagan.
The initiative aims to address the growing issue of construction waste in Trichy, promoting sustainable waste management and resource recovery.
