The Tiruchi Corporation has intensified efforts to reduce plastic waste reaching landfills by increasing the diversion of non recyclable plastics to cement factories for use as refuse derived fuel (RDF).
The city generates around 450–470 tonnes of solid waste every day, with nearly 70% already being segregated at source. Officials expect segregation levels to improve further with the implementation of the four-bin waste segregation system under the new Solid Waste Management Rules.
Waste collected from households and commercial establishments is transported to Micro Compost Centres (MCCs) and Resource Recovery Centres (RRCs), where it is sorted into different categories. Non-recyclable single use plastic items such as snack packets, carry bags, food wrappers, plastic covers, disposable cutlery, containers and bottles are separated and sent to Dalmia Cement for use as alternative fuel in cement kilns.
According to Corporation officials, around 4,000 tonnes of plastic waste have been diverted to cement plants since July 2024. Garbage trucks transport around 8–10 tonnes of plastic waste per trip from Resource Recovery Centres across the city’s five zones, with nearly 454 trips completed so far.
To strengthen waste collection, the Corporation has directed sanitation workers to intensify door to door collection while promoting the four bin segregation system. Garbage collection vehicles have also been equipped with GPS tracking devices, allowing officials to monitor vehicle movement and improve the efficiency of waste collection and disposal.
Officials said consistent source level segregation has significantly reduced the amount of plastic waste reaching the Ariyamangalam dump yard. They added that the upcoming Automated Material Recovery Facility (AMRF), currently being developed at the dump yard, is expected to further improve waste segregation and plastic recovery once it becomes operational.