Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) generates over 20 tonnes of waste each day. In order to manage its waste properly and achieve its sustainability goals, the airport has initiated the process of setting up a state-of-the-art solid waste management facility on its premises.
According to officials of the Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), who operate KIA, the airport will be the first in Asia to have such an in-house sustainable and integrated waste management facility.
According to a statement released by the airport, Polish company Ekolog has been roped in as the implementation partner on this Design-Build-Own-Operate (DBOO) project. Ekolog works in the in the environmental technology sector.
Phase 1 of the facility, when complete, will be able to process 20 tonnes of waste per day (TPD). This capacity can be increased to 60 TPD.
The facility is expected to start functioning in January 2019.
Once fully operational, organic waste will be converted into sustainable bio-energy through the process of biomethanation. This will generate enough electricity to power 5,000 households in a year. Additionally, it will also generate 1.5 million kg of compost annually.
Recyclable waste will be sent for recycling. The solid waste management facility will be odourless, protected from animal access while ensuring high standards of hygiene, the authority said.
"At BIAL, we take our role as a leader in sustainable development very seriously. Solid Waste Management is just one of our initiatives in this area. The Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru will be the first in Asia to adopt an in-house, sustainable and integrated waste management facility. Our aim is to ensure that our Airport environment works towards the highest adherence of sustainability," said Hari Marar, the Managing Director & CEO of BIAL.
KIA is the third largest airport in India and the busiest in South India. It caters to more than 22 million passengers each year.