Delhi: In a major step toward sustainable urban waste management, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has partnered with Indian Institute of Technology Delhi to develop a scientific and technology-driven waste management framework for the national capital. The initiative aims to support Delhi’s long-term goal of achieving “zero waste to landfill.”
Delhi currently generates nearly 12,500 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day, while existing waste processing systems remain insufficient to handle the increasing volume efficiently. The collaboration comes amid growing concerns over overflowing landfill sites and rising garbage accumulation across the city.
Under the project, IIT Delhi will help prepare a comprehensive citywide and ward-level solid waste management plan aligned with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026. The proposed framework will focus on source segregation, decentralised waste processing, scientific treatment methods, and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill sites.
MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar stated that Delhi can no longer depend on landfill sites as its primary waste disposal mechanism. He emphasised that the collaboration marks a significant shift toward transparent, accountable, and future-ready waste management involving citizens, RWAs, sanitation workers, and bulk waste generators.
The six-month project, estimated at ₹1.94 crore, will include GIS-based mapping of waste generation, infrastructure gap assessment, digital monitoring systems, standard operating procedures, and third-party audits for waste processing facilities. IIT Delhi will also help identify vulnerable garbage points and recommend improved collection and transportation systems.
Officials estimate that nearly 30% of Delhi’s municipal waste could eventually be processed at the source level through decentralised systems under the new framework. The initiative will additionally include awareness campaigns, youth engagement programmes, hackathons, and training sessions for municipal officials, schools, colleges, and waste workers to encourage citizen participation in sustainable waste practices.
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