Puttur civic body converts wet waste into BioCNG that is used to operate six vehicles

In a rare initiative in Karnataka, Puttur city municipality in Dakshina Kannada is converting wet waste into Bio Compressed Natural Gas (BioCNG) through private partnership, for the past nine months. The BioCNG is being used to operate six vehicles of the municipality.

The BioCNG is generated by Krishna Muliya Green Energy LLP in a plant at Bannur.

Now, the municipality and Krishna Muliya Green Energy LLP are planning to sell surplus BioCNG to potential consumers.

Municipality Commissioner Madhu S. Manohar told The Hindu that the plant was set up by Krishna Muliya Green Energy LLP under Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model on civic land. The plant was financed and is being operated by the LLP. The firm will have to hand over the plant to the municipality after 40 years.

“The plant produced over 24,000 kg of BioCNG since August, 2024,” the commissioner said adding that it produced between 200 kg and 250 kg of gas daily. “Our target is to produce 350 kg of gas every day,” he said.

Mr. Manohar said that about 12 tonnes of wet waste is generated in the jurisdiction of the municipality daily. The municipality diverted 10 tonnes of wet waste for producing BioCNG. The remaining two tonnes of waste is not fit for use in the plant because it contains some mixed waste. Wet waste has to be segregated if it is to be used for generating gas. Hence, the two tonnes are being used for composting.

Krishna Narayana Muliya, Managing Director, Krishna Muliya Green Energy LLP, said that the firm joined hands with the municipality as a social service without commercial interest as the venture is not remunerative. “Preparations are on to sell the unused BioCNG to people,” Mr. Muliya said.

Retap Solutions Private Limitdd, Mangaluru has provided technical solutions for the project.

The commissioner said that, with a growing population and increasing waste generation, Puttur city faces a mounting challenge in managing municipal solid waste, particularly biodegradable wet waste. Recognising the environmental and economic potential of organic waste, the municipality adopted innovative solutions to convert it into BioCNG, a renewable and eco-friendly energy source.

By leveraging cutting-edge technology, the municipality processes organic waste, such as food scrap, vegetable peels, and garden trimmings, into high-quality BioCNG. This not only helps in reduce the dependency on fossil fuels but also mitigates the harmful impact of improper waste disposal, such as greenhouse gas emissions and soil contamination.

“The initiative is the first of its kind among urban local bodies in Karnataka,” Mr. Manohar said.

“We have been getting enquiries from a few other urban local bodies in the State seeking details with the intention of replicating the process in their cities,” the commissioner said.