Rangri waste plant restarts, tackles Manali’s trash crisis with new tech

After an 11-month shutdown, Manali’s waste-processing facility at Rangri has resumed operations, managing nearly 30–35 tonnes of garbage daily—matching the waste generated during peak tourist season in the town and its suburbs.

The plant was forced to close on July 15, 2024, when the previous contractor was removed over poor performance. In September, the Manali Municipal Council (MC) awarded a new contract to Sunton Waste Solutions, which spent the next nine months revamping the facility. Key upgrades included the construction of a covered shed, installation of shredders and conveyors, and comprehensive testing of the new processing lines. The plant resumed operations earlier this week.

MC officials report that around 70% of the 12,000 tonnes of legacy waste accumulated during the shutdown has already been processed. The plant now compresses incoming waste into Resource-Derived Fuel (RDF) pellets, reducing its volume by up to 70%. “We’re managing the daily 35 tonnes collected from both the MC area and the Tourist Development Corporation zone efficiently,” said MC president Manoj Larje.

The next major step is dispatching RDF to two identified end-users: a biogas plant in Panchkula, Haryana, and several cement kilns in the state. In Panchkula, RDF pellets will be co-digested with crop residue to produce biogas. Cement factories will use RDF to replace up to 20% of coal, helping cut emissions.

However, outbound transport has faced delays due to ongoing negotiations with the local truck union over freight rates. “We are in the final stage of talks,” Larje noted. “Once transport tariffs are fixed, regular covered-truck convoys to both Panchkula and cement plants will begin.”

The plant remains under judicial oversight following a ?4.6 crore penalty imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in May 2024 for leachate discharge into the Beas River. While the case is ongoing, council members say that the upgraded plant has largely resolved pollution concerns, with untreated runoff now eliminated.

With RDF dispatch about to begin and environmental safeguards in place, Rangri’s facility is on course to become a model for sustainable waste management in India’s ecologically sensitive hill regions.

Himachal Tribune