Waste Plant Plan Sparks Resident Outrage

Residents and environmental groups are calling for the withdrawal of a proposed 1,200-tonnes-per-day waste-to-energy plant planned for the Vellalore landfill. They argue the project contradicts the National Green Tribunal's directives for biomining and ecological restoration of the site.

Instead, a decentralized Zero Waste model, emphasizing segregation, composting, biomethanation, and recycling, is proposed. Concerns are raised that processing waste from Coimbatore and Tiruppur municipal corporations at Vellalore will increase the environmental burden on local residents.

Studies from CSIR-NEERI indicate mixed municipal waste is unsuitable for large-scale incineration due to its moisture content and low calorific value. The closure of incinerators in Chennai and a global shift towards decentralized waste management are cited as further reasons against the project.

Residents, who have endured over two decades of environmental degradation from the landfill, demand site restoration. They urge the government to make all studies public, assess Zero Waste alternatives, and invest in waste segregation and recycling infrastructure.