TRICHY: The Trichy corporation has approved 4 acres of land in Panjapur for a construction and demolition (C&D) waste facility capable of recycling 50 tonnes of debris daily. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) has been established in collaboration with a private environmental resource management company to raise Rs 8 crore for the project, which follows a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The recycling unit will collect demolition waste from residents and builders, converting it into valuable construction materials like paver blocks and hollow bricks. Initially proposed for Ariyamangalam, the plant’s location has moved to the STP site in Panjapur following public opposition. A preliminary study indicates that Trichy city could generate at least 250 tonnes of construction waste each day.
As older properties are being demolished and renovated, demand for the C&D recycling facility is expected to rise. Officials have stated the plant will be equipped with machinery to sort debris into concrete, whole bricks, mixed demolition waste, wood, steel, plastic, and bituminous materials.
Concrete and mixed debris will be processed into fine sand, coarse sand, and gravel. If necessary, byproducts will be cleaned, with cement and other materials added to create interlocked bricks and paver blocks. “We will let market demand dictate our production. Based on needs, we will manufacture value-added products from recycled debris. The plant is expected to be operational by November 2026,” said Radhakrishnan T R Aiyyer, CEO of Aiyyer Environment Resource Management, part of the SPV.
The recycling facility is anticipated to handle approximately 1,500 tonnes of construction waste monthly. A weighbridge will be set up at the Panjapur site. The local body is projected to pay a tipping fee of about Rs 640 per tonne to the waste management company that will operate the recycling plant. The site has been handed over to the waste management firm, and the Trichy corporation plans to develop four collection points throughout the city for residents to drop off debris.
“The waste management company will handle the collection and transportation of debris to the recycling plant at its expense. Prior to establishing the C&D recycling facility, illegal dumping around water bodies was escalating. We aim to implement a suitable revenue model for selling the recycled end products,” stated Mayor Mu Anbalagan in an interview with TOI.
