CCP turns waste into energy through biogas and composting projects

NT Reporter | Panaji

Giving sustainable waste management a fillip, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) is converting 350 kg of wet waste to biogas, which is supplied free of cost to institutions such as the polytechnic and KTC canteens. The corporation has also implemented composting projects. Biogas plants have been set up at several locations, including the KTC complex, the government polytechnic, and the Patto area. Pipelines have been laid to supply the generated gas directly to nearby canteens for cooking.

“The plants collectively treat around 350 kilograms of wet waste per day. The gas produced is supplied free of cost to institutions such as the polytechnic and KTC canteens. This effort not only reduces the dependence on LPG cylinders—one user reported saving up to four cylinders—but also helps manage waste effectively within the city,” said a CCP official.

The biogas and composting systems are designed as decentralised units and established wherever suitable land is available. “Locations include Mala, Caranzalem, and other identified zones,” the official said. Land availability remains a challenge, but efforts are ongoing to expand the system to more residential and commercial areas, the official said.

In some residential complexes, biogas generated on-site is already being supplied for cooking within the premises.

Officials said the initiative supports a broader vision to build a circular economy where waste becomes a resource. The CCP is also promoting campaigns such as ‘Say No to Plastics’ to minimise waste at the source.

“Every citizen has a role to play. By reducing and segregating waste before disposal, residents make it easier to recycle, compost, or convert it into biogas. Treating waste at the source ensures cleaner surroundings and helps create a self-sustaining system,” an official said.

Officials added that the project’s success depends on segregation at the source. Mixed waste contaminates recyclable materials, while clean dry waste can be sent to recycling vendors, and wet waste processed for composting or biogas generation.