CASE STUDY- Gorai Garbage Scheme

Urbanisation CS- Gorai Garbage Scheme Top Down

what problem is the Gorai Garbage Scheme (GGS) trying to solve

• Gorai Garbage site an area in Mumbai where all waste dumped

• waste disposal system didn’t involve recycling/filtering waste in any way which had a very negative impact on environment and surrounding area

• waste decomposed, methane (greenhouse gas) released into the atmosphere; smelt bad and toxic to local creek

what years was waste being dumped at Gorai Garbage site

1972-2007

how many tonnes of Mumbai’s solid waste was deposited at Gorai daily

1200 tonnes

how high waste waste piled at Gorai in 2007

27m high

who started the GGS and when

• Supreme Court of Mumbai ordered something had to be done

• decided this in 2007

how long was the project meant to take

2 years

what did GGS involve

• waste would be reshaped into a gently sloping hill, covered in layers of lining to prevent toxic methane leaking out

• soil laid over this, grass planted and created park for residents

• damaging landfill converted into green space to help increase biodiversity in an urban area

four key aims of GGS

• remove effects of toxic methane from environment

• remove waste sustainably

• make something from the waste that has a positive impact on the environment

• improve pollution and well-being of citizens in Gorai

how is GGS sustainable

• removes toxic methane gas from the environment and no leaching either

• planted trees and grass on the hill; encouraging biodiversity and aids pollution problems; green space

• methane capture technology installed which uses methane gas created by the waste to generate power; sustainable method of energy production

positive social impacts of GGS

• gave citizens a local park

• less pollution so less people developing lung disease/problems

• higher standards of living as more investment in Gorai

• clean water supply as toxic methane not contaminating it

• better access to electricity through methane capture technology

positive economic impacts of GGS

• house prices increase bringing investment into the area

• power generated from the methane provides electricity to residents cheaply and can be sold to others for profit

negative economic impact of GGS

very expensive project; tech required and scale

positive environmental impacts of GGS

• lowered pollution levels in Gorai

• park; green space for wildlife, plants to grow and sequester CO2

• no methane released into the environment

• animals not getting sick from the methane

• methane stopped leaking into local river and lake so less damage to wildlife

successes of GGS

• stopped methane from being released into the atmosphere

• provided residents with a large park

• provides power through methane capture tech

• no leaching of methane due to many layers covering it

limitations of GGS

• waste is still there; doesn’t remove the waste, only hides it

• doesn’t deal with the standing problem of waste disposal in Mumbai; only treats on garbage site and doesn’t solve overarching problem

• risk of leaching