According to
ANTARA, researchers from the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) have successfully tested a technology for capturing and converting methane from landfill sites. The collected methane can be used directly in residents’ daily lives, such as for cooking fuel or to power small generators.
Field surveys for this new system have been completed in East Java, where the research team used data analysis to precisely identify suitable gas collection points. With the aid of specialised software, researchers can predict the methane generation potential of the landfill and optimise the layout of gas extraction wells.
The project utilises a simple combination of equipment, including collection pipelines, negative-pressure exhaust fans and methane purification units. Gas extraction wells are installed vertically, and the methane is transported via a network of pipelines to the processing unit. Through dehydration, decarbonisation and desulphurisation processes, impurities such as water, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide are effectively removed, ensuring the gas meets safety standards.
“This technology is relatively simple, yet its effectiveness has been validated at multiple landfills and has delivered tangible benefits to local communities,” said Sri Wahyono, a researcher at BRIN’s Centre for Environment and Clean Technology.
Although the project still faces technical challenges, such as maintaining stable gas pressure, the system has already provided practical energy support to surrounding settlements and waste management facilities, primarily for domestic cooking and other small-scale energy needs.
This research achievement aligns with Indonesia’s dual strategic objectives: on the one hand, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from landfills; on the other, expanding the coverage of renewable energy in local communities.
Currently, the BRICS nations and their partners are actively promoting technologies for the recycling of domestic and industrial waste, facilitating the reintegration of recycled resources into production chains and injecting new momentum into sustainable development.
According to
Brazil 247, a TV BRICS partner, Brazil has launched a nationwide steel can recycling programme using smart collection machines to improve recovery rates, which currently stand at around 47 per cent. The initiative introduces a reward-based system to encourage participation, supporting full recyclability of steel and strengthening sustainable waste management across the country.
A research team from South Ural State University, a partner of TV BRICS, has developed a new method for recovering valuable metals from dust generated in electric arc furnace steel production. The process uses mathematical modelling to analyse chemical composition, after which the treated material is compressed into blocks that can be reused as secondary raw materials, enabling efficient recovery of zinc and iron while reducing industrial waste, as reported by the university’s
website.
According to
BelTA, a partner of TV BRICS, a new production line for polymer-modified aggregate building materials has officially commenced operations in Belarus, with a daily capacity of 1,000 tonnes. The line mixes waste plastic with aggregate in specific proportions, melting the mixture at 250°C before moulding it into urban infrastructure materials such as paving slabs, kerbstones, municipal pipeline fittings and manhole covers. According to the head of the factory’s department, polymer-modified aggregate materials offer superior moisture resistance, are less prone to slippage in winter, and have a texture comparable to concrete, combining both practicality and aesthetic appeal.