India’s First Dry-Fermentation MSW Plant | 28 Nov 2025

Why in News? 

Nagpur is set to host India’s first dry-fermentation Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) processing plant, which will convert organic waste into biogas and compost without using water. 

Key Points 

  • The dry-fermentation plant is being developed in Bhandewadi (Nagpur), where construction is in final stages and trial operations are expected soon. 
  • The initiative is supported by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and aims to improve decentralised waste management under the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 framework. 
  • Features:  
    • Unlike conventional wet-fermentation, this system treats high-solid biodegradable waste (such as kitchen and market waste) using minimal water, making it suitable for Indian cities facing water scarcity. 
    • Designed as a zero-liquid-discharge (ZLD) facility, the project is expected to significantly reduce the environmental load on existing dumpsites.

Dry-Fermentation Technology 

  • A biological process where microorganisms break down solid-rich organic waste (25–40% solids) in the absence of oxygen to produce biogas (mainly methane). 
  • It requires very little water, unlike wet anaerobic digestion and is ideal for municipal solid waste, agricultural residue, and food waste with high lignocellulosic content. 
  • The technology offers significant advantages such as lower operational costs, a faster digestion cycle, suitability for decentralised plants, reduced slurry handling, and a higher methane yield per tonne. 
  • It is widely used in Germany, Austria, and Italy; now being adopted in India for the first time.