The Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat has started operating a centre to produce energy pellets from non-recyclable dry waste in Kemral in Mulky taluk. The initiative does away with the cost-intensive process of baling the dry waste and transporting it to cement units in Belagavi and other places in north Karnataka.

According to Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Narwade Vinayak Karbhari, the district has become a pioneer in the country by commissioning such a centre in a rural area.

The energy pellets are produced from non-recyclable dry waste, including clothes, slippers, and single-use plastic items. The unit has been set up by the Zilla Panchayat, in association with the Department of Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation, Puttur Taluk Panchayat and Kemral Gram Panchayat. A total of ₹48 lakh, allotted under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) to Mangaluru, Mulky and Moodbidri taluks, was used to set up the centre. The centre has the capacity to produce two tonnes of energy pellets every day. It was set up in a shed that was earlier used by the panchayat to store dry waste.

The pellets will be used as fuel in the boilers of sugarcane and other industrial units. A Pune-based firm has been purchasing them at ₹5 per kg over the past few days.

An official from the Zilla Panchayat said four material recovery facilities (MRF) in Thenka Yedapadavu in Mangaluru taluk, Narikombu in Bantwal taluk, Ujire in Belthangady taluk and Kedambady in Puttur taluk were receiving 22 tonnes of dry waste every day. Of this, 60% was non-recyclable and was being baled and transported to cement units in north Karnataka. For transporting one lorry load, each MRF incurred a cost of ₹48,000, which came to about ₹3 per kg of dry waste.

To bring down this transportation cost, Mr. Karbhari visited an energy pellet production unit in Maharashtra and then took steps to set up the centre in Kemral, Mr. Karbhari said in a video statement.

Published - July 12, 2026 06:25 pm IST