From garbage to gas: New technology

An Israeli technology has been introduced in Nepal, which turns domestic garbage into gas and organic manure. The Israeli home biogas technique is considered environment-friendly, and has been introduced in Nepal for the first time.
According to Bipin Khetan of Clean Energy Nepal, the technology was introduced in Nepal some 3 years ago and the samples were sent to 2 schools in Kathmandu and Lalitpur after testing.
Around 8 households have been using the technology currently, and they have plans of expanding it within this year, he said, adding that they have been planning awareness programs and exhibitions to make the Kathmandu metropolis use the technology widely.
It takes 1100 liters of water and 100 liter of cow dung to operate the technology. The system then converts daily waste in t gas and organic manure. As a part of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre grant, consumers need to pay a mere amount of Rs 59000 for the technology.
According to the Biogas expert Basu Gautam, the technology can generate 2 hours worth of gas and 6 liters of organic manure by using 3 to 6 kilograms worth of garbage. “The technology has a 15-year warranty and can generate 1 cylinder worth of gas and more than 150 liters of manure in a month that is a monthly income equivalent of Rs 3000,” he added.
With the use of this technology, Kathmandu can reduce gas imports by 60 percent, making garbage management easier and generating enough manure for terrace farming, the experts said, adding that this technology can be an easy solution for cities being pestered by garbage if used with utmost efficiency. “The technology is therefore rising in popularity.”
According to the study conducted by Asian Development Bank (ADB), Kathmandu denizens produce 0.77 kilograms of garbage per person per day. Degradable wastes account for 70 percent of the garbage, due to which Gautam said that such a technology will make waste management easier and efficient. One of the studies has recorded that over 40 percent of the residents’ utlize gas and around 36 percent utilize firewood for cooking in the city areas.
The new technology will displace traditional sources of energy, which accounts for 90 percent of traditional energy used in the form of biomass, generating environment-friendly gas, he added.