NO MORE LANDFILLS: Delhi plans 4 modern waste processing plants

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has unveiled a Rs 361-crore plan to expand the city’s solid waste management infrastructure by setting up four new processing facilities. These plants — Bhalswa (1,800 tonnes per day), Singhola (700 tonnes), Okhla (1,400 tonnes), and Narela-Bawana (1,200 tonnes) — will be developed on reclaimed landfill and silt disposal sites.

The initiative aims to prevent new waste from reaching Delhi’s overburdened landfills and accelerate the clearance of legacy waste. Delhi generates about 11,500 tonnes of garbage daily, of which existing waste-to-energy plants handle roughly 6,650 tonnes. To support the new units, MCD has reclaimed 25 acres in Bhalswa, 10 acres in Okhla, and 7.2 acres at a silt dump site.

Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said the new plants will significantly reduce landfill pressure, and work to appoint expert agencies for their setup has already begun. The civic body targets to make the facilities operational within six months.

Sanjeev Kapoor, head of MCD’s Environment Management Services Committee, noted that fresh and legacy waste require distinct treatment methods. The new plants will process wet household waste using trommel units, producing organic manure within 30–40 days after segregation and drying.

Striving For A Cleaner Delhi

The Delhi Government is striving to reduce the pollution load from air, water & land to rejuvenate Yamuna and improve the natural environment of the national capital. The government is reducing its landfills by setting a 2026 deadline to stop fresh waste dumping and clear existing landfill sites. The city is increasing its biomining capacity and fast-tracking Waste-to-Energy (WTE) projects.

The Tehkhand Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant situated in Southeast Delhi is being upgraded with Rs 900 crore. A new 30MW waste-to-energy (WTE) project has been clearance to be built in North Delhi’s Bawana.

Last year, the Delhi Government granted the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner expanded authority to oversee contracts related to municipal solid waste.