Delhi's Bold Leap: Mayor Rekha Gupta Directs MCD to Eradicate Landfills by 2026

In a landmark move poised to redefine Delhi's environmental landscape, Mayor Rekha Gupta has issued a resolute directive to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), setting an ambitious deadline of December 2026 for the complete clearance of the city's three colossal landfill sites: Ghazipur, Bhalswa, and Okhla.

This decisive mandate underscores a deep commitment to transforming the capital into a 'city of zero landfills,' alleviating decades of accumulated waste and its pervasive environmental burden.

Mayor Gupta’s directive comes after her recent visit to the Okhla landfill site, where she meticulously reviewed the progress of biomining operations.

Emphasizing the critical role of scientific processing, she stressed the need for the efficient deployment of trommel machines – the technological backbone of this massive cleanup effort. The vision is clear: to systematically dismantle these mountains of garbage, which have long been symbols of urban environmental neglect and sources of severe air pollution.

The sheer scale of the undertaking is immense.

Collectively, these three sites have processed a staggering 197.68 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of legacy waste. Yet, a formidable 76 LMT still remains, representing years of accumulated refuse that contributes to hazardous air quality, groundwater contamination, and public health risks. Specifically, Ghazipur, a site that has often captured headlines due to its towering height, has processed 75 LMT with 45 LMT still requiring attention.

Bhalswa has seen 53.68 LMT processed, with 19 LMT to go, and Okhla has tackled 69 LMT, leaving 12 LMT remaining.

To accelerate this mission, Mayor Gupta highlighted that new tenders have been proactively issued to procure an increased number of advanced trommel machines. These specialized machines are vital for separating different components of the legacy waste – soil, plastic, and inert materials – facilitating their proper disposal and recycling.

This scientific approach ensures that the cleanup is not just about moving waste, but about reclaiming valuable land and resources.

Beyond the legacy waste, Delhi continues to grapple with a daily inflow of approximately 11,300 metric tonnes of fresh waste. Encouragingly, a significant portion—around 7,600 MT—is now channeled to Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants, converting refuse into power.

However, 3,700 MT still finds its way to the landfills, underscoring the continuous challenge of waste management that requires sustained effort and innovative solutions.

Mayor Gupta's message to MCD officials was unequivocal: transparency, regular monitoring, and strict accountability are paramount.

The journey to a zero-landfill Delhi is not merely an administrative task; it's a monumental public health and environmental imperative. This ambitious December 2026 deadline sets a clear, urgent target for the MCD, promising a cleaner, greener, and healthier future for millions of Delhiites, finally freeing the capital from its notorious waste mountains.