Goa waste management plans for the proposed Bainguinim facility may draw from international practices, with GWMC awaiting approval to study advanced waste treatment systems in South Korea.
Abdul Wahab Khan Panaji
Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) is awaiting a government approval to send a delegation to South Korea to study the advanced waste management practices there, particularly underground treatment facilities, before finalising designs for the 100 tonnes per day solid waste management facility proposed at Bainguinim.
The visit, if cleared, will likely be significant given the opposition from the residents and the local representatives over the plant’s proximity to residential areas.
If approved, the Korea study tour will focus on
understanding the best practices in waste processing rather than wholesale replication of foreign models.
“We do not intend to blindly replicate the Korean model, but will draw lessons from systems that have proved effective in densely populated urban settings. Korea’s waste is different from ours. We have to learn from the good practices there. Not only Korea, wherever there are plants, be it in Europe or India, even in our state, the plants that have been running for eight to nine years have helped us learn a lot,” a GWMC official said.
The official said that regardless of the insights gained from Korea, the Bainguinim plant will be designed as a “fully enclosed plant” ensuring zero emissions.
He said that replicating Korea’s underground model requires a careful feasibility assessment from an engineering perspective. “Adopting underground components similar to the Korean plants will require a detailed engineering feasibility study.”
“Adopting underground components similar to the Korean plants will require a detailed engineering feasibility study, particularly concerning groundwater management and preventing water pooling within subterranean processing units during monsoon,” the official said.
Korean facilities employ advanced dehumidification systems, waterproof membrane technology and sophisticated drainage networks to maintain dry processing environments underground, technologies that would need adaptation to Goa’s specific geological and hydrological conditions, the official said.
He said that what makes Korean solid waste management facilities particularly relevant for Bainguinim is their use of underground treatment technology, which has revolutionised waste processing in densely populated urban centres.
These facilities operate almost entirely below ground level, maintaining minimal surface footprint whilst virtually eliminating the odour and noise pollution typically associated with conventional waste treatment plants, the official said.
Waste processing units are housed in sealed underground chambers equipped with negative pressure ventilation systems, ensuring that foul air does not escape. Advanced biofilters, activated carbon scrubbers and thermal oxidisers are used to treat exhaust air before it is released, making the facilities virtually odour-free, the official said.
Another key feature of Korean underground plants is automation. Waste is mechanically sorted using optical and sensor-based technologies, reducing human handling, the official said. Organic waste is often treated through enclosed anaerobic digestion units located underground, producing biogas for energy while minimising leachate and emissions.
Residual waste is compacted and transferred through sealed conveyance systems, ensuring that surrounding residential areas remain unaffected, the official said.
Read more updates on Goa waste management and civic infrastructure projects on The Navhind Times.
