The aim of the project is to provide a framework for the transformation of open dumps to advanced sustainable waste management systems in India. The study focuses on one of the biggest dumps in the world in N. Delhi, and evaluates the steps required to remediate and recover the contaminated land, and subsequently, the deployment of a materials recovery facility that will be followed by a Waste-to-Energy plant, to provide valuable materials and energy for the community. The ideal plan considers the use of energy to operate a wastewater treatment facility that will be located next to the WtE plant. The baseline scenario focuses on the least sustainable solution, but at the same time, the most cost effective, the construction of an engineered landfill. In this proposal, a holistic technical, economic, policy and financial analysis is conducted to assess the viability of the proposed solutions. Additionally, a major objective of the project is to identify the most significant elements of deployment, and to evaluate the viability of the proposed solutions in other countries, tailored to different needs and smaller scales. This session will introduce the problem in perspective and provide evidence on its importance for the case of India with global implications; the methods and assumptions used, and the results of the study.

Speaker Bio:
Erica Ferrara will be completing her MS in Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia this August. She has a special interest in the remediation and redevelopment of brownfields and similarly contaminated spaces to improve the quality of life of communities. She credits Professor Bourtsalas for inspiring her interest in waste management technologies after taking several of his courses, and has had the privilege of working with him as her thesis advisor. After completing her thesis, Erica looks forward to starting her career in environmental engineering with Trane Technologies to work on improving industrial systems and processes.

https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcqf-Crqj8rE9PLa76t2bVZjHrtK24gesPs