Chennai Corporation Plans Composting Centre Closures

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has announced plans to close several Micro Composting Centres (MCCs) and Material/Resource Recovery Centres (MRFs/RRCs) following public objections regarding foul odours and their locations within burial grounds. This decision was communicated in a status report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by the Solid Waste Management Department.

Key Information:

• Date of Announcement: August 23, 2025
• Operational Facilities: As of January 1, 2025, GCC was operating 190 MCCs and 137 MRFs across 15 zones of Chennai.
• Facilities in Contention:
  • 58 MCCs and 40 MRFs are situated in burial ground areas, which have sparked significant opposition from local residents, elected officials, NGOs, and Residents’ Welfare Associations.
  • The report emphasized the necessity of relocating these centres to preserve the sanctity of burial grounds, which are used for rituals honoring deceased individuals.
• Public Complaints: Residents reported issues with foul odours from these centres, prompting calls for their closure.
• Quality of Compost: GCC acknowledged that the compost generated from the MCCs failed to meet the required carbon-nitrogen ratio, rendering it unsalable to the public or agriculture sector, leading to compost accumulation in these centres.
• Recyclable Materials: It was noted that many MRFs were diverting reusable materials that were being sold directly by conservancy workers, resulting in only non-recyclable waste being processed at the facilities.
• Operational Adjustments: GCC intends to maintain 22 well-managed MCCs and 49 MRFs/RRCs that do not pose public concerns, while the remaining facilities will be shut down. The wet waste from the closed MCCs will be redirected to Bio-CNG plants.
• Current Bio-CNG Plants: As of this report, two Bio-CNG plants are operational:
  • Chetpet (150 TPD capacity)
  • Madhavaram (160 TPD capacity)
• Future Projects: Five additional Bio-CNG plants are under construction. Plans are also underway for integrated waste management plants at Kodungaiyur and Perungudi, which will feature facilities for Bio-CNG, composting, automated MRF, and waste-to-energy projects.
  • Work has commenced at the Kodungaiyur site, while preliminary steps for establishing a 100 MT windrow composting plant at Perungudi are being initiated.

In summary, the GCC has taken heed of public concerns regarding waste management facilities and is implementing changes to ensure public health and the maintenance of sacred spaces. This includes shutting down problematic facilities, redirecting waste to more suitable processing options, and establishing better-integrated waste management systems.

Important Points:

• GCC to close several MCCs and MRFs due to public opposition.
• 190 MCCs and 137 MRFs were operational as of January 1, 2025.
• 58 MCCs and 40 MRFs in burial grounds faced strong resistance.
• Complaints centered on foul odours and poor compost quality.
• GCC will maintain 22 MCCs and 49 MRFs/RRCs deemed acceptable.
• Operational Bio-CNG plants at Chetpet and Madhavaram, with more planned.
• Integrated waste management plants are under development at Kodungaiyur and Perungudi.