Karachi’s waste finds new life in landmark eco-friendly biogas project

In a major stride towards sustainable waste management, the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) has successfully commissioned and operated a pilot biogas plant in Karachi, aiming to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and revolutionise how organic waste is disposed of.

Installed at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation workshop on Nishtar Road in District South, the 5m³ capacity biogas facility has been operational for the past two months. It processes 14 kilos of food waste daily, converting it into three kilos of raw biogas and 10 kilos of compost. The gas is used for cooking at the site’s in-house kitchen, while the compost nourishes green belts and gardens within the city.

The plant sources its feedstock from door-to-door waste collection services run by the SSWMB’s private contractors in various neighbourhoods, ensuring that organic waste is put to constructive use rather than ending up at landfills.

Officials say the initiative is part of a broader effort to lower methane emissions from unmanaged waste, one of the major contributors to climate change. The project, they add, proves that waste can be a resource — if managed smartly.

“This pilot demonstrates that up to 50 per cent of Karachi’s municipal waste, which is organic, can be turned into valuable products like compost and clean cooking fuel,” said SSWMB Managing Director Tariq Ali Nizamani in a recent podcast.

Nizamani also announced that public training sessions would be launched to educate the residents of the city on converting their kitchen waste into compost at home. He said that another 30 per cent of urban waste, such as plastic, cardboard and paper, can also be recycled into marketable products, paving the way for Karachi to adopt a full-fledged circular economy model.

In the light of the project’s success, the SSWMB now plans to scale up operations by establishing a 1,500m³ capacity biogas facility in the city’s Cattle Colony. Senior environmental consultant Saquib Ejaz Hussain praised the project as a “landmark milestone” in Pakistan’s environmental journey. “I feel proud to commend the successful commissioning and operationalisation of the biogas plant in Karachi.”

Hussain said that this initiative not only demonstrates the power of clean, renewable energy but also the provincial government’s firm commitment to environmental stewardship. “Biogas technology aligns perfectly with global sustainability goals: it enhances energy security, reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, and supports the health of our urban ecosystems.”

A leader in environmental health and safety services, he called upon public and private sectors to invest further in green technologies that promote a circular economy and resilient communities.

“This achievement underscores the need for eco-innovative solutions to tackle climate change, conserve resources, and secure a cleaner, greener future for coming generations,” he added. With growing momentum behind waste-to-energy initiatives, Karachi’s garbage can soon become one of its most valuable resources.