Biomining

Recently, Delhi's Biomining project has been facing obstacles such as waste dumping and weather challenges, causing the project to miss its 2024 deadline.

Key Points

Biomining involves the scientific process of excavating, treating, segregating, and utilizing aged municipal solid waste or legacy waste, following Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines.
It is an environmentally friendly technique that separates soil and recyclables like plastic, metal, paper, textiles, Construction & Demolition waste materials, and other solid materials from legacy waste, targeting valuable metals such as copper, uranium, nickel, and gold in sulfur-bearing minerals.
The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 now mandate bio-mining legacy waste instead of 'capping', which involves covering the waste with soil, promoting an approach that includes zero emissions and leaves near-zero residues.
Biomining offers considerable benefits, such as reducing soil pollution, soil contamination, and groundwater contamination, supporting a cleaner and safer environment.