Cities across India are turning long-standing garbage dumps into reclaimed land, green spaces and modern waste-processing facilities under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) 2.0.
The initiative, which focuses on scientific remediation of legacy dumpsites, has resulted in the processing of 3.66 crore metric tonnes of legacy waste between January and December 2025. During the same period, 459 Urban Local Bodies across 29 States achieved complete dumpsite remediation.
The Centre’s Lakshya Zero Dumpsite initiative and the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) are aimed at accelerating scientific and time-bound remediation of legacy waste sites across the country.
Gorakhpur turns dumpsite into eco park
In Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, a 40-acre site that served as the city’s primary waste disposal area for seven years has been transformed through biomining.
Around 400 tonnes of waste were processed every day, with the accumulated waste segregated into refuse-derived fuel, black soil, recyclables and inert material. The recovered black soil was used to fill low-lying areas, while refuse-derived fuel was sent to cement industries for co-processing.
The reclaimed 40-acre site has now been developed into the Kachre Se Kanchan Rapti Eco Park.
The park features green lawns, walking and jogging tracks, a children’s play area, an open gym, yoga zone, solar lighting and water conservation structures. It also has food courts, parking facilities and installations made from recycled materials.
The park has created opportunities for local livelihoods, with the women-led self-help group Shakti Ki Rasoi operating a restaurant on the premises. The facility currently attracts around 500 visitors every day.
Bhalswa dumpsite in Delhi undergoing remediation
In Delhi, remediation work is continuing at the approximately 70-acre Bhalswa dumpsite, where biomining has been underway since July 2022.
The site received further attention during the national Swachhata Hi Seva campaign in September 2025. In November that year, the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme was launched to fast-track remediation of remaining legacy dumpsites.
According to the Ministry, more than half of the Bhalswa site had been reclaimed by May 2026. By July 31, 2026, 99.07 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste had been remediated.
The work also includes fire-prevention measures, leachate management and other environmental safeguards. Steps are being taken to process fresh waste at the landfill to prevent the accumulation of new legacy waste.
Nagpur shifts from open dumping to scientific waste management
In Nagpur, Maharashtra, the Bhandewadi dumping yard is being transformed into an integrated municipal solid waste processing facility.
The city, with a population of more than 30 lakh, had accumulated large quantities of waste at the site over the years. Under the remediation programme, legacy waste has been excavated, segregated and processed.
More than 10 lakh metric tonnes of accumulated waste have been treated, allowing valuable land to be reclaimed.
The facility now includes systems for material recovery, composting and production of waste-derived fuel. Modern machinery, CCTV surveillance, real-time monitoring, dust-control measures and leachate treatment have also been incorporated.
The transformation is aimed at reducing dependence on landfills while improving environmental conditions around the site.
Raichur converts reclaimed dumpsite into ecological space
In Karnataka’s Raichur, scientific remediation is transforming the 35-acre Yakalaspura dumpsite.
Around 62,252 metric tonnes of waste have been processed, resulting in the reclamation of nearly 22 acres of urban land.
Part of the restored area is being developed as a Miyawaki forest covering approximately 5-7 acres. Around 60,000 bamboo and native saplings are being planted to increase green cover, support biodiversity and restore the soil.
The plantation began on June 5, 2026, coinciding with World Environment Day.
The project has been developed around the concept of “Toxic Waste to Ecological Wealth”, highlighting the potential of reclaimed dumpsite land for ecological restoration and sustainable urban development.
From waste disposal to resource recovery
The transformation of these dumpsites reflects a broader shift in urban waste management, from open dumping towards scientific processing, resource recovery and land reclamation.
Under SBM-U 2.0, cities are combining waste-processing infrastructure with monitoring systems, action plans and environmental safeguards to prevent the creation of new legacy waste.
The government’s approach also includes tracking progress through the SBM-U portal and annual Swachh Survekshan assessments.
The initiatives in Gorakhpur, Delhi, Nagpur and Raichur demonstrate how land occupied for years by accumulated waste can be reclaimed for public, ecological and productive uses.
