The third and final trial for incinerating hazardous waste from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal was completed on 12th of March at ReSustainability’s waste disposal facility in Pithampur, according to the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB).
As part of the process, 30 tonnes of the total 337 metric tonnes of waste transported from the Bhopal factory to Pithampur in early January were incinerated starting February 28. Throughout the trials, emissions of pollutants and gases remained within the prescribed safety limits, as continuously monitored by the MPPCB.
“The third trial began on March 10 at 7:41 AM with a blank run of the incinerator, followed by waste feeding at 7:41 PM at a rate of 270 kg per hour. This continued until March 12 at 8:43 AM. The remaining waste will be disposed of based on the trial results, as per the directives of the Honourable High Court,” stated an MPPCB release.
Samples of dioxins and furans—highly toxic chemicals released during incineration—are yet to be analyzed from all three trials, the board added.
The first incineration trial was conducted at a waste feeding rate of 135 kg per hour, while the second trial increased to 180 kg per hour. These trial phases were carried out in compliance with the Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s order dated February 18.
Earlier, on December 3, the High Court had directed the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department to clean up the Union Carbide factory site and take necessary measures for the safe removal and disposal of hazardous waste.
The transportation of waste to Pithampur sparked protests from local residents, who expressed concerns over potential environmental hazards associated with the incineration process.
Addressing these concerns, the MP High Court’s February 18 order noted that 11 community representatives had urged the Dhar district collector to conduct an initial trial of 10 metric tonnes and to share the results with the public before proceeding further.
