MCD Fast-Tracks Two Waste Management Initiatives at Okhla

Under pressure to create additional municipal waste processing capacity, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has accelerated work on two major waste management projects at the Okhla landfill site.

The projects include a fresh waste processing plant with a capacity of 1,400 metric tonnes per day (MTD) and a construction and demolition (C&D) waste processing facility with a capacity of 1,000 MTD. Officials said nearly 3,200 MT of fresh waste is currently being dumped at the Okhla landfill every day.

During an inspection visit, MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar was informed that construction of the fresh waste processing plant has started on a 10-acre site. The ₹153-crore project is targeted for completion by the end of October.

Officials said fresh waste from the South, West, Najafgarh and Central zones is currently transported to Okhla for disposal. Reducing fresh waste dumping is considered essential for flattening the landfill site within the planned December-end timeline.

“We have installed boundary pillars to mark the project area and construction has now begun,” an MCD official said.

The civic body is also expanding the capacity of the waste-to-energy plants at Tehkhand and Okhla by 1,000 MT per day each. Work on the Okhla facility has already started, with the expansion expected to be completed by March 2027.

At the Okhla landfill, work is also underway on a seven-acre reclaimed site for a C&D waste processing plant, which is expected to be completed by November 30. The facility will allow operators to receive bulk C&D waste from private generators and charge processing fees.

Meanwhile, MCD’s horticulture department has started a pilot greening project on another two-acre reclaimed site. Doob grass (Cynodon dactylon) is being planted to help stabilise the soil, reduce dust emissions and improve the reclaimed area. A layer of sandy soil mixed with manure has been added to support vegetation growth.

Across Delhi, MCD is developing five new fresh waste processing plants with a combined capacity of 5,900 tonnes per day at a total cost of ₹596 crore. These facilities are expected to be operational by October-November 2026.

The planned projects include an 1,800 TPD plant at Bhalswa, a 1,200 TPD facility at Narela-Bawana, an 800 TPD plant at Ghazipur and a 700 TPD facility at Singhola for processing fresh waste and drain silt.

Officials said expanding waste processing infrastructure is critical as, apart from Okhla, around 3,500 MT of waste is dumped daily at the Bhalswa and Ghazipur landfill sites. Delhi generates around 12,847 MT of municipal waste every day, while only 7,642 MT is currently processed.