In India, the segregation of municipal waste at source is rare. Recycling is mostly with the informal sector. More than three-fourths of the municipal budget goes into collection and transportation, which leaves very little for processing/resource recovery and disposal. Where does waste-to-energy fit into all this? Ideally it fits in the chain after segregation (between wet waste and the rest), collection, recycling, and before getting to the landfill, technology is most appropriate in converting waste to energy depends on what is in the waste (that is biodegradable versus non-biodegradable component) and its calorific value. The biodegradable component of India municipal solid waste is a little over 50 per cent, and biomethanation offers a major solution for processing this.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage?
The passage explicitly states that waste-to-energy "ideally it fits in the chain after segregation (between wet waste and the rest), collection, recycling, and before getting to the landfill." This sequence establishes segregation as a foundational prerequisite for the effective integration of waste-to-energy processes. Therefore, ensuring proper segregation is the initial step to facilitate the supply of suitable waste for energy generation.
The passage does not provide any information regarding the cost-effectiveness or inexpensiveness of generating energy from municipal solid waste. Therefore, statement (A) cannot be inferred from the given text.
While the passage identifies biomethanation as a "major solution" for processing the biodegradable component (over 50%), it also states that the "technology most appropriate in converting waste to energy depends on what is in the waste (that is biodegradable versus non-biodegradable component) and its calorific value." This indicates that no single technology is universally ideal, but rather the choice is context-dependent, making statement (B) incorrect.
The passage explicitly states that "The biodegradable component of India municipal solid waste is a little over 50 per cent, and biomethanation offers a major solution for processing this." This contradicts the assertion in statement (D) that the biodegradable component is inadequate; instead, it highlights its significant potential for energy recovery through biomethanation.