Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Report Labels India’s Waste-to-Energy Plants Most Polluting Industrial Sector
A report says some waste-burning plants in India may be causing serious pollution.
It focuses on the waste facility at Jawaharnagar near Hyderabad.
The report says the dump releases a very large amount of methane, a gas that warms the planet.
It also says the plant burns wet waste, which does not burn efficiently.
Some waste is left behind and can produce more methane as it decomposes.
The Centre for Financial Accountability says this means burning waste does not solve all waste problems.
The group is also worried about a proposed facility at Siddapur.
It says the new rules could reduce public involvement and environmental checks.
The report recommends more decentralized ways to manage waste instead of relying mainly on incineration.
The Centre for Financial Accountability says waste-to-energy incineration plants have the country’s highest Pollution Index score.
The report says Jawaharnagar’s dump yard emits 5.9 tonnes of methane per hour, or about 49,000 tonnes annually.
Jawaharnagar has two waste-to-energy plants operated by Re-Sustainability Ltd, with combined capacity of 48 megawatts.
The CFA says burning wet waste releases carbon dioxide while unprocessed waste continues decomposing into methane.
The group criticized plans for a 4,000-tonne-per-day facility at Siddapur, saying its reclassification could bypass hearings and environmental assessments.
- Who
- The Centre for Financial Accountability issued the report, citing monitoring and inspection data from pollution-control authorities; Re-Sustainability Ltd operates the Jawaharnagar plants.
- What
- The report claims waste-to-energy incineration is India’s most polluting industrial sector and criticizes Hyderabad’s waste-management system.
- When
- The report was released on Friday; the article does not specify the date.
- Where
- The findings concern India, especially the Jawaharnagar dump yard near Hyderabad and a proposed facility at Siddapur in Rangareddy district, Telangana.
- Why
- The CFA says incinerating wet waste produces pollution and leaves waste that generates methane, while proposed regulatory changes could reduce public hearings and environmental assessments.
- Reporting organization
- Centre for Financial Accountability
- Reported Pollution Index
- 100 out of 100 for waste-to-energy facilities
- Jawaharnagar methane emissions
- 5.9 tonnes per hour, according to the cited study
- Annual methane estimate
- About 49,000 tonnes annually
- Jawaharnagar plants
- Two plants with a combined capacity of 48 megawatts, operated by Re-Sustainability Ltd
- Proposed Siddapur facility
- A 4,000-tonne-per-day waste-to-energy and waste facility
- Methane study support
- The study was supported by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and used Carbon Mapper satellite data