Delhi Landfill Waste Processing: Rekha Gupta Says 100 Acres of Land Reclaimed

Delhi landfill waste processing has gained fresh momentum as Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said her government has reclaimed around 100 acres of land across the capital's three major landfill sites within one and a half years. Speaking at the Okhla landfill site, the Chief Minister said significant progress has been made in removing legacy waste while efforts are simultaneously underway to process the fresh waste generated every day.

According to Rekha Gupta, nearly all the legacy waste that had accumulated at Okhla before January 2025 has now been processed. She said the waste currently visible at the site primarily consists of fresh garbage generated after January 2025, which is also being processed continuously.

The Delhi government is now focusing on a two-pronged approach—clearing the accumulated legacy waste from landfill sites and ensuring that newly generated waste is processed without delay.

Delhi Landfill Waste Processing Targets Legacy Waste and Fresh Garbage

The Chief Minister said the government has been working to fulfil its commitment to eliminate the massive garbage mountains that have remained a major civic and environmental concern in Delhi.

Rekha Gupta stated that approximately 100 acres of land have been reclaimed across the city's three landfill sites during the last one and a half years. The reclamation of landfill space is being linked to the government's broader waste-management strategy.

At Okhla, she said, most of the legacy waste accumulated before January 2025 has already been processed. The remaining garbage being seen at the site is largely fresh waste generated subsequently.

3,000–4,000 Metric Tons of Fresh Waste Daily

One of the major challenges facing Delhi's waste-management system is the continuous generation of fresh municipal waste.

According to the Chief Minister, around 3,000 to 4,000 metric tons of fresh waste reaches the landfill sites every day. Processing this waste immediately is considered essential to prevent the creation of new garbage mountains.

The government is therefore working simultaneously on removing old waste and managing newly generated waste.

Fresh Waste Processing Unit Launched at Okhla
To strengthen the city's waste-management capacity, a new fresh waste processing unit is being launched at the Okhla landfill site.

The unit is intended to help process fresh waste on a continuous basis. The facility will also address Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, according to the Chief Minister.

The objective is to ensure that waste arriving at the site does not continue to accumulate and develop into another large landfill mountain.

Focus on Preventing Future Garbage Mountains

The Delhi government's approach is not limited to clearing existing landfill waste. The administration is also seeking to prevent the accumulation of fresh waste in the future.