From Prasad To Power: 44 MT Wet Waste From Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Festival To Generate Electricity

Mumbai: During the 11-day Ganesh festival, approximately 44 metric tonnes of leftover food and wet waste at the Lalbaugcha Raja Prasadalaya will be turned into electricity through an innovative project, "Prasad to Energy." The initiative, a collaboration between the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's F South ward, collects the waste generated by the mandal's Prasad distribution centre and community kitchen.

Each day, around four metric tonnes of wet waste is produced during the festival. The collected waste is transported to four civic hospitals - Sewri TB Hospital, Kasturba Hospital, Nair Hospital and Sion Hospital - where it is processed using biomethanation technology installed by Aeroshakti, a unit of Aerocare Aviation Private Limited.

The wet waste undergoes biomethanation to produce biogas and electricity, which is then utilized by the civic hospitals. The electricity generated is sufficient to power around 70 fans and 20 tube lights at a hospital. Officials estimate that the initiative will save around ₹576 per day in electricity costs, equating to approximately ₹6,500 savings over the festival's duration.

This waste-to-energy project builds on the F South ward's previous success of refurbishing footwear collected during the festival and distributing them to tribal students.